Arsenal re-established their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League by beating the division’s bottom side Nottingham Forest 4-0 today at the Emirates.
There had been a few question marks over Mikel Arteta’s side coming into the game after they drew away to Southampton last weekend and then lost in Holland against PSV in midweek, although those doubts were soon erased when Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring in sublime fashion after just four minutes. The Brazilian winger played a sweeping ball out to Bukayo Saka on the right before bursting into the box to power a stooping header into the net from his fellow attacker’s whipped cross.
Both Arsenal and England fans both had their hearts in their mouths though when the in-form Saka went down with an injury and had to be withdrawn on 27 minutes. However, Saka’s replacement Reiss Nelson made a massive impact, with the 22-year-old attacker firing home a well-taken brace just after half-time to kill the game as a contest.
Reiss Nelson hadn’t scored for Arsenal since November 2020.
He scored twice in a three-minute span against Forest 🎯 pic.twitter.com/6jS2lcvyg6
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 30, 2022
Nelson then turned provider when he laid the ball in field for Thomas Partey, who stroked home a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the area.
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard put the icing on the cake in the 78th minute, with the classy playmaker showing neat footwork inside the area before hammering a shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards out.
Speaking afterwards Mikel Arteta was understandably delighted with his sides showing.
“I’m really happy, I know how difficult it is to get three points after playing every three days and all the travel and it’s great to be top again,” Arteta told BBC Sport.
“We had a different speed and purpose right from the off and I’m happy the team did it again today.
“We had the chances and the control and we needed another goal in the first half to have an easier afternoon. But we started the second half well.
Arteta was also pleased to Nelson take his opportunity after what has been a difficult couple of seasons for the highly-rated youngster.
“Delighted for Reiss. He fully deserved that for how he is doing personally and in training. He has grabbed his opportunity with both hands.
