5 reactions from Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest

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<p>&mdash; Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/13/5-reactions-from-arsenals-2-1-victory-over-forest/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1690664497231355904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>August 13, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/13/5-reactions-from-arsenals-2-1-victory-over-forest/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <h2>1. Disappointing win</h2> <p>If there is ever a win that feels disappointing, it was this one. It&#8217;s early, but spending &pound;200m and hanging on to a win at home against a side that many predict are going to struggle is disappointing. Forest were the worst-performing away side in the division last season, too.</p> <p>On Friday we saw the treble winners lay to rest a newly promoted side away from home and never be in any real danger. It felt that was the way Arsenal were going after being up 2-0.</p> <p>It almost felt like Arsenal took the foot off the pedal and were content with two goals. In a season where we&#8217;re chasing one of the best sides in Premier League history, every goal counts &#8211; scored or conceded. There was not any real urgency down the stretch to get the third that may have put this match away for good.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide&#8230;</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/13/5-reactions-from-arsenals-2-1-victory-over-forest/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span>&nbsp;Reactions from Forest win </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135849" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-135849" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/13/5-reactions-from-arsenals-2-1-victory-over-forest/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1682,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1598728388-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1682" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1598728388-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1598728388-768x505.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1598728388-1536x1009.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1598728388-2048x1346.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Gabriel Martinelli dazzled in the first half. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h2>2. Martinelli looks like Martinelli</h2> <p>Chasing trophies in the Premier League means Arsenal have to be at their very best. Leandro Trossard being in form has put pressure on Gabriel Martinelli and he responded. When given the opportunity with the ball, the Brazilian flashed. His turn and pass on the first Nketiah goal was fantastic. He looked a bit off in pre-season, but it looked like the old Gabby in the first half on Saturday.</p> <h2>3. Where Does Kai Havertz fit?</h2> <p>That question can still not be answered. Havertz started in the midfield with Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice as Arteta switched to a fluid 3-1-6 possession structure.</p> <p>Forest were tight all first half, and it seemed like it was hard for Havertz and others to get their footing in the game. Once Arsenal opened Forest up, Rice and Odegaard found their stride while Havertz was still a step behind.</p> <p>In the second half, he took over the 9 role when Trossard came on for Nketiah. While he made a run on an aerial pass that he assisted with a handball, he was mostly ineffective. As the match was nearing the final whistle, Arsenal had a counter with more men in the attack than Forest had defenders. Havertz had the ball and waited too long before getting in the box to make a decision which led to nothing. A quicker reaction or pass maybe gets the third goal and a bit of relief for the Emirates crowd.</p> <p>It’s only one match but Havertz looked a step behind.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/13/5-reactions-from-arsenals-2-1-victory-over-forest/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> More reactions from Forest win </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135850" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135850" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/13/5-reactions-from-arsenals-2-1-victory-over-forest/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1609813500-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1609813500-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1609813500-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1609813500-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1609813500-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Gabriel was benched for “tactical reasons”. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h2>4. Gabriel on the bench</h2> <p>After starting every Premier League game this season, Gabriel was dropped to the bench on Saturday as Mikel Arteta went with a back line of Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Ben White, and Thomas Partey.</p> <p>Maybe it was a message sent to Gabriel that although he may be a very good centre-back, concentration mistakes like the one that lead to a goal in the Manchester United friendly will not go unnoticed. It was an interesting lineup selection and maybe not Arsenal’s strongest in defence. However, Arteta subbed him on late when it felt like Forest were close to equalising to protect the three points.</p> <p>Gabriel is definitely going to be starting moving forward whether this was a message being sent or an experiment by the manager.</p> <h2>5. Bukayo Saka is only 21… take it in</h2> <p>No doubt Arsenal’s best player and the <a title="Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest: Player ratings as Gunners claim opening weekend win" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/13/5-reactions-from-arsenals-2-1-victory-over-forest/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/08/12/arsenal-2-1-nottingham-forest-player-ratings/" rel="">deserved Man of the Match</a>. A lot of the attack flowed through him down the right. His pairing with Partey and Ben White down his flank gave Forest issues throughout the first half, in particular.</p> <p>Once Odegaard found his way into the match, it was all but inevitable a goal would come from the right flank. It came. A rocket to the top right corner from Saka’s left foot. 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