Arsenal showcased the strength of their summer recruitment drive as debutants Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres inspired a commanding 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, handing Ange Postecoglou a sobering first defeat in charge.
The Gunners dominated from the outset and deservedly went ahead midway through the first half.
When Noni Madueke’s corner was only half-cleared, Zubimendi struck a superb volley from the edge of the area to mark his home debut with a stunning goal.
It was a just reward for Arsenal’s early pressure, which largely came from set-piece situations, with Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber all going close before the breakthrough.
Eze and Gyökeres Combine
The second half began in explosive fashion, with Arsenal doubling their lead just seconds after the restart.
Riccardo Calafiori released Eze down the left, and the England international showed pace and composure on his first start to square for Gyökeres, who tapped in his third goal for the club.
That quickfire blow left Forest chasing shadows, Postecoglou’s side only threatened after falling two goals behind, and even then, they found David Raya in resolute form on his 100th Arsenal appearance.
The Spaniard produced a brilliant fingertip save to push Chris Wood’s audacious effort onto the crossbar, ensuring he marked his milestone with a clean sheet.
Zubimendi Seals the Points
Arsenal continued to carve out opportunities, with Gyökeres rattling the woodwork and substitute Declan Rice narrowly failing to connect with Jurrien Timber’s teasing cross.
The third goal eventually arrived through another set-piece, this time, Zubimendi rose highest to head in Leandro Trossard’s delivery, capping a fantastic performance at home with a brace and sealing the points.
It was another sobering evening for Forest, who have now suffered back-to-back 3-0 defeats under two different managers.
Postecoglou, who was serenaded with chants of “sacked in the morning” and “are you Tottenham in disguise?” by Arsenal fans, faces an uphill battle to instil his high-energy “Angeball” philosophy.
Player Ratings
Arsenal: Raya (7); Timber (8), Mosquera (8), Gabriel (7), Calafiori (7); Zubimendi (9), Merino (8), Odegaard (6); Madueke (8), Gyökeres (7), Eze (8).
Subs: Nwaneri (7), Rice (6), Lewis-Skelly (6), Martinelli (6), Trossard (6).
Nottingham Forest: Sels (5); Williams (5), Milenkovic (6), Murillo (5), Morato (4); Anderson (6), Sangaré (5); Hudson-Odoi (5), Gibbs-White (5), Ndoye (6); Wood (5).
Subs: Savona (6), Bakwa (6), Muinga (6), Yates (6), McAtee (6).
Player of the Match: Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal).
The Bigger Picture
For Arsenal, this was as much a statement of intent as it was a routine victory; their new arrivals slotted seamlessly into Mikel Arteta’s system, combining to deliver goals, creativity and control.
With Zubimendi marshalling midfield, Eze adding flair on the left and Gyökeres offering a physical presence up front, the Gunners look to have added fresh dimensions to a side already brimming with quality.
Forest, however, look short of belief and cohesion; Postecoglou has inherited a squad in transition, and while there were fleeting moments of intent, they were ultimately outclassed.
If “Angeball” is to take root at the City Ground, patience and significant improvement will be required.