Arsenal 3-0 Nottm Forest (23 Nov, 2024) Game Analysis - ESPN (UK)

Revised: November 23, 2024, at 6:12 PM

Arsenal bounced back in the Premier League, with Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Ødegaard leading the team to a solid 3-0 win at home against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta's team was in urgent need of three points to reignite their championship ambitions after going four matches without a victory. Once Saka scored early on, it was clear that the outcome was never in question.

England's forward Saka teamed up with the key player Ødegaard to score a beautiful goal just 15 minutes into the match. The home team could have increased their lead before halftime, but Forest's goalkeeper Matz Sels made some impressive saves to keep his team in the game.

Nottingham Forest started the match tied on points with Arsenal, but their aspirations quickly faded when Thomas Partey, who came on at halftime, scored with a beautifully curved shot in the 52nd minute. Later, teenage substitute Ethan Nwaneri sealed the game with a late third goal.

The win allowed Arsenal to maintain their position in fourth, accumulating 22 points from 12 matches. They are currently six points behind Liverpool, who will take on the last-placed team, Southampton, on Sunday. Meanwhile, Forest has dropped to sixth place.

Arteta was marking his 250th match as manager, and seeing Ødegaard and Saka back to their best was just what he needed after a stretch of tough results.

Ødegaard made his comeback from a significant ankle injury during the draw against Chelsea before the international break, and he played impressively, taking charge of the game for Arsenal.

Saka appeared rejuvenated after having to skip the recent England training session due to an injury. He connected well with Odegaard, showcasing their synergy nicely before both were replaced in the latter stages of the match, as Arteta shifted his focus to the upcoming Champions League match against Sporting on Tuesday.

This season, Forest has been an unexpected team and has sometimes posed a danger when launching counter-attacks. However, for the most part, it was a dominating performance in the rainy weather of north London.

Arsenal saw an early goal from Jurriën Timber disallowed for offside following an extensive VAR review. However, they quickly took the lead when Odegaard delivered a precise pass to Saka. He maneuvered around three Nottingham Forest defenders before unleashing a fantastic shot that found the back of the net past Sels.

Sels made some key saves to stop Leandro Trossard and Saka, preventing Arsenal from increasing their lead before halftime.

Midfielder Partey, who replaced Jorginho, had plenty of room to unleash a fantastic shot that curled past Sels. Then, 17-year-old Nwaneri capped off the performance with his first Premier League goal, scoring with a precise low shot that found the inside of the post in the 86th minute.