Arsenal delivered a convincing 3-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium, with Martín Zubimendi’s exquisite volley helping set the tone and Viktor Gyökeres adding his own composed finish shortly after the restart to underline the Gunners’ growing threat.
Zubimendi later sealed the win with a header, his brace further highlighting the quality arriving in the Arsenal squad this season.
The first goal came in the 32nd minute, when a corner from Noni Madueke was initially cleared only as far as the edge of the box. Zubimendi, arriving at pace, unleashed a volley that zipped beyond the crowded area, clipping a defender, and beating Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels with both power and precision.
It was the kind of finish that drew gasps from the crowd — a reminder of technique and timing combining under pressure.
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Arsenal had already been asserting dominance in the opening half despite significant absences: captain Martin Ødegaard was forced off earlier in the match with a recurring shoulder issue, while other key players continued to be unavailable due to injury.
However, the volume of chances, especially from set-pieces, suggested Forest were struggling to deal with Arsenal’s movement and sharp crosses.
Almost immediately after the half-time whistle, the hosts doubled their lead. Eberechi Eze, making his full debut, combined with a pass from Riccardo Calafiori and found the space to pick out Gyökeres.
The striker made no mistake, tapping home to make it 2-0. It was his third goal of the season, and the move revealed growing synergy among the new arrivals.
While Forest attempted to respond, their chances were few and largely confined to the occasional moment of hope. One such moment saw Chris Wood put through a scuffed opportunity from Dan Ndoye’s cross, only to be denied by Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya, who was enjoying his 100th appearance in Arsenal colours.
Late in the game, Zubimendi added his second. Leandro Trossard swung in a free-kick cross, and Zubimendi rose at the near post to head it in, sealing the 3-0 result. The goal was received with delight by the Emirates faithful, setting off chants that reflected both the quality on display and the pressure Forest’s new manager, Ange Postecoglou, was under.
What makes Zubimendi’s first goal especially memorable is not just its technique but the manner in which it surprised everyone — including his teammates. After the game, Gyökeres, speaking in admiration of his midfield colleague, said, “I haven’t seen him do it in training to be fair, so it’s great he’s been able to pull it out … It’s great to see him score two.”
Manager Mikel Arteta, reflecting after the game, emphasised how the club’s recruitment has begun to offer real options, saying that the performance revealed “new relationships flourishing” and that Arsenal must become “unpredictable.”
From a historical perspective, this was not just another Premier League fixture. It marked Nottingham Forest’s first match under their new manager Postecoglou, following the departure of the previous coach. The loss adds further scrutiny on a Forest side in transition, facing both expectations and doubts.
Arsenal, meanwhile, with several of their marquee signings now settling in, appear to be building momentum. Zubimendi’s brace was his first goals for the club, and his volley will surely be replayed for some time as a standout moment of fresh arrival making a statement.