After going two games without a win in all competitions, Arsenal needed to get back on track to avoid talk of a slump in form. Thankfully for the Gunners, they made a fast start, going a goal up inside five minutes when Gabriel Martinelli showed plenty of desire to get his head on the end of a Bukayo Saka cross. The host maintained that early momentum, and came close to doubling their lead after Granit Xhaka’s pull-back found Martinelli, whose low shot was cleared off the line by Renan Lodi. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Mikel Arteta’s side in the first half, with a late self-inflicted scare almost levelling up the game.
The Gunners have now led at HT in nine of their 12 PL fixtures this season, but they didn’t rest on their laurels, effectively killing the game off with two more quickfire goals. Reiss Nelson replaced the injured Saka in the first half and took his rare opportunity in the side by netting twice, first following in his parried shot with a composed finish, then smartly flicking in Gabriel Jesus’ ball from close range. Arsenal kept their foot on the gas, adding a fourth before the hour mark when Nelson laid off Thomas Partey, who sent a rocket into the top-right corner, leaving Dean Henderson with no chance.
Jesus squandered several chances to get himself on the scoresheet for the first time in seven matches, but certainly atoned by providing his second assist of the afternoon, laying off Martin Ødegaard for Arsenal’s fifth. The hosts’ second-half blitz takes them two points above Manchester City, claiming their first home clean sheet in 11 league outings in the process. Meanwhile, Forest remain rooted to the bottom of the PL table, having scored just one goal in their seven PL away trips this campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Reiss Nelson (Arsenal)