On matchday 4 of the Premier League, Arsenal showcased their dominance with a convincing 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest, highlighted by a standout performance from Martín Zubimendi, who scored two goals (31’ 1H and 33’ 2H). Zubimendi’s contributions were pivotal, demonstrating his finishing skills with both a well-executed play and a powerful header.
Just after halftime, Viktor Gyökeres further solidified Arsenal’s performance by adding a third goal with an outstanding individual effort.
Despite having a chance to extend the lead, Gyökeres was thwarted by the post in the 58th minute, which would have put even more distance between the teams.
Zubimendi emerged as the standout player of the match, completing 40 successful passes and attempting 3 shots on target. His overall impact on the game was undeniable.
Defensively, Gabriel Magalhães made crucial contributions, clearing two dangerous balls out of the Arsenal area, reinforcing his importance in the backline.
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, opted for a 4-3-3 formation, placing David Raya in goal, supported by Jurriën Timber, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel Magalhães, and Riccardo Calafiori in defense. The midfield trio featured Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, and Martin Ødegaard, while Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, and Eberechi Eze led the attack.
In contrast, Nottingham Forest, managed by Angelos Postecoglou, lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with Matz Sels as the goalkeeper. Neco Williams, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, and Felipe Morato made up the defensive line, while Ibrahim Sangaré, Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Callum Hudson-Odoi formed the midfield. Chris Wood was the lone striker upfront.
The match took place at the Emirates Stadium, officiated by Darren England.
In the next round, Arsenal will face Manchester City at home, while Nottingham will visit Burnley.
This victory places Arsenal at the top of the league table with a total of 9 points, while Nottingham Forest sits in 11th place with 4 points.
Substitutions for Arsenal
16’ 1H – Martin Ødegaard replaced by Ethan Nwaneri
67’ 2H – Riccardo Calafiori and Viktor Gyökeres substituted for Myles Lewis-Skelly and Declan Rice, respectively
77’ 2H – Noni Madueke substituted for Gabriel Martinelli
78’ 2H – Eberechi Eze substituted for Leandro Trossard
Yellow card for Arsenal:
16’ 2H – Riccardo Calafiori (Unsporting behavior)
Substitutions for Nottingham Forest
36’ 1H – Murillo substituted for Nicolò Savona
59’ 2H – Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi replaced by Dilane Bakwa and Arnaud Kalimuendo, respectively
72’ 2H – Morgan Gibbs-White substituted for James McAtee and Ibrahim Sangaré replaced by Ryan Yates
Yellow card for Nottingham Forest:
32’ 2H – Neco Williams (Unsporting behavior)