Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference
Final Result: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal (Awoniyi 89’| G. Jesus 65′, Saka 72′?)
Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Zinchenko (Kiwior 90′), Saliba, Gabriel, White; Rice, Odegaard (Jorginho 90′), Smith Rowe (Havertz 71′); Martinelli (Trossard 71′), Saka, G. Jesus (Nketiah 71′)
Arsenal visited the City Ground to take on a Nottingham Forest side that had an advantage over the Gunners based on their shambolic record on their home turf. Nuno Espirito Santo deployed Neco Williams on the right flank, which allowed Nottingham to play with five at the back when defending in the lowest of low blocks.
Arsenal pressed, probed, huffed, puffed and couldn’t blow the Nottingham Forest house down. Arsenal drew first blood when surprise starter, Emile Smith Rowe, fashioned a chance at the edge of the area and blasted a shot that sailed effortlessly over the bar.
The Gunners clearly had all the possession but Nottingham Forest defended with their lives. Arsenal still got some half chances and early in the second half, Bukayo Saka had a chance to put the away side ahead but Turner was on hand to make a good save.
The onslaught from Arsenal continued when Martin Odegaard dummied a shot from a Saka pass before threading the ball carefully for Gabriel Jesus. Jesus was one on one with Turner and blasted a shot that beat his American ex-teammate but the powerful effort clipped the post. Jesus atoned for that glaring miss minutes later when he latched onto Oleksandr Zinchenko’s throw-in, bore down on goal and placed the ball through Turner’s legs from a rather acute angle.
It wad quite embarrassing for the Nottingham Forest goalie but Arsenal fans didn’t care as the Gunners got the goal their play rightly deserved. Arsenal doubled their money when Montiel’s poor clearance upfield allowed Odegaard to swiftly feed Jesus that saw an on rushing Saka and teed him up. The Starboy controlled the ball with his first touch and blasted the ball past Turner to make it 2-0.
Arteta shuffled the pack with the introductions of Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah. The Belgian almost made an immediate impact latching onto Odegaard’s pass at the edge of the area, firing a shot that went wide off the mark.
Despite the clear dominance in the match, Arsenal became nervy at the end when Awoniyi scored following some defensive lapses from Zinchenko and William Saliba. The goal took the wind off Arsenal’s sails but they showed good composure to hold out for an important win that puts them two points behind Liverpool that hosts a resurgent Chelsea tonight.
In a game that was an absolute must win for Arsenal, Jesus delivered big time.
Sayonara.
Sayonara.
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