Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest: Madueke shines as Zubimendi and Gyokeres goals give Postecoglou era miserable start
The former Spurs boss made an unhappy return to the home of his old club's north London rivals
Noni Madueke produced a dazzling display as a Martin Zubimendi brace and Viktor Gyokeres goal ensured a miserable first Nottingham Forest outing for new manager Ange Postecoglou at the Emirates.
Zubimendi’s first goal in Arsenal colours – a sublime first-half volley – set Mikel Arteta’s side on their way to a comfortable afternoon that saw the Spaniard add to his tally following Gyokeres’ goal just after the break.
But it was Madueke, buoyed after bagging his first England goal against Serbia in midweek, who stole the show in north London, oozing confidence and helping to ensure the Gunners, who lost Martin Odegaard to injury early on, returned to the top of the Premier League.
For Postecoglou and Forest, it was a sobering afternoon as their defensive frailties were again exposed by a team with creativity in abundance.
How the action unfolded
After a fairly even start, the first big chance of the game fell the way of the hosts. From a free-kick, the ball dropped to Mikel Merino, who after scoring a hat-trick against Turkey in midweek, seemed destined to find the net, but the versatile Spaniard’s effort instead drew a fine stop from Matz Sels in the Forest goal.
Arteta was then dealt an early blow when captain Odegaard went down clutching his shoulder following an awkward tumble just 10 minutes in.
He tried to play on but was forced off shortly after, replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.
Jurrien Timber then went close for Arsenal, getting his head to Madueke’s inswinging corner, but the effort deflected wide.
It was about the only action in an otherwise uneventful opening half hour. But the Forest defence, as it had for 11 consecutive league games coming into the tie, was eventually breached, courtesy of a sublime first Gunners goal from Zubimendi.
Meeting a clearance from a corner, the Spanish midfielder hit a thumping volley which sailed past Sels into the top corner via a slight deflection off Murillo to give Arteta’s side the advantage.
To compound matters for Forest’s new boss, the Brazilian central defender then hobbled off with five minutes of the half remaining.
However, going behind seemed to jolt Postecoglou’s men into life and Morgan Gibbs-White had the visitors’ best chance of the half just before the break when he curled an effort just wide after a neat one-two with Chris Wood.
But the resurgence was short-lived. Just 46 seconds after the restart, Arsenal doubled their lead when Gyokeres tapped home from Eberechi Eze’s low cross.
In the absence of Bukayo Saka and Odegaard, it was Eze, making his full debut following his move from Crystal Palace, as well as Madueke who were proving to be Arteta’s creative sparks.
The England duo both combined with Gyokeres moments later; a move that culminated in the Sweden international rattling the outside of the post as the Gunners looked to add to their tally.
By this point, Madueke was full of confidence. With 15 minutes remaining, the winger bamboozled the Forest backline before finding the overlapping Timber with a delicious reverse ball.
The full-back then swung in an enticing ball across the box that substitute Declan Rice was agonisingly close to connecting with.
The squandered opportunity mattered little. Zubimendi then made it a brace, heading in from Leandro Trossard’s delivery as Postecoglou was made to endure a miserable return to his former club’s north London rivals.