Odegaard the orchestrator as dominant Gunners chop down Forest in fine fashion

Arsenal 3 Nottingham Forest 0

It was the kind of day Mikel Arteta - a coach forever demanding the most exacting detail - hoped for.

Three points and a renewed sense of purpose following the international break, as Nottingham Forest were seen off in routine style. The Arsenal boss likened this as the kind of building performance for the second half of the season, with ‘bricks’ and ‘cement’. It was a decent analogy on a businesslike afternoon for the Gunners, with this welcome 3-0 triumph.

There was, surprisingly, no challenge from a Forest team who sat just one place below them in fifth, as Arsenal ran out worthy victors and remain in the Premier League’s top four. The beat of the Gunners’ movement, accompanied by an incessant drizzle which swept across north London.

Arsenal’s early dominance was capped with a goal by Bukayo Saka, before substitute Thomas Partey struck a fine shot just after half time, and another replacement, Ethan Nwaneri, made it 3-0 a few minutes from a sodden conclusion for Forest.

The goals, the ease of brushing past Nuno Espirito-Santos’ men all make encouraging signposts ahead of the Gunners’ visit to Portugal where they take on Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night in the Champions League. And Arteta’s men will make the trip largely unscathed from today.

Any doubts over Arsenal’s resilience – this was actually their first win in five league games - against Forest were soon dispelled.

Control

In the 15th minute and taking control, captain Martin Odegaard showed he is over injury issues by setting up the opener. Picking up possession inside the visitors’ penalty area, the Norwegian set up Saka, who subsequently crashed a shot into the roof of the net with his left foot after exercising patience and control.

Right across the opening 20 minutes in particular, an anxious Forest were under enormous pressure and struggled to create anything of note in the final third. Even without Declan Rice - who was recovering from injury and had to settle for a place on the bench – Arsenal comfortably dictated matters, Odegaard the assumed central orchestrator to all their rhythm.

Saka and Odegaard epitomised Arsenal’s ascendancy with both lightness of touch and spacial awareness which had Forest second guessing for long spells.

Indeed, Forest keeper Matz Sels did well to palm shots by Leandro Trossard and Saka away as the Gunners were virtually encamped in their opponent’s half.

This was also to be one of those days when Arteta’s decision making proved accurate.

His interval change, replacing Jorginho with Partey in the middle of the park was vindicated within six minutes of the restart. Unmarked Partey strode forward from midfield and took aim from 20 yards out, rifling a shot which sailed past Sels who had little chance.

The visit to Portugal coming up, the required cushion saw the second half tapering off with a disappointing Forest unable to impose themselves.

Afterwards, Espirito-Santo conceded Forest were outclassed. “They have quality players - Trossard and Saka caused a lot of problems”, he said. “Today we allowed (Arsenal) space and we have a lot of work to do”.

In fact, by the time striker Chris Wood - still feeling the effects of New Zealand international duty - emerged from the bench, it was too late for the east Midlands outfit. Other than a header just over the bar from stopper Nikola Milenkovic, Forest offered barely a murmur; an oddity considering they had already beaten Liverpool at Anfield and drawn with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Ex-Chelsea star, Callum Hudson-Odoi, for instance, was anonymous throughout. Arsenal cruised in a contest where the promise of anticipated Forest fire failed to launch.

Dominance

“Straight away I saw a dominance and energy about the team and we should have scored more in the first half", said a content Arteta. “Thomas and Ethan have come in and scored, and I felt that I have to praise them.

“Forest are a really good side. They had not lost a game away from home this season”.

Matters were duly wrapped up by a combination of Arsenal substitutes with four minutes left. Set up by Raheem Sterling, Nwaneri, who had drifted inside the Forest penalty area, guided the ball under Sels.

Consequently, the general feeling around the Emirates was that of a job professionally done. It is also worth noting that Forest’s rise to the top six was a result of a good defensive record.

Arteta, moreover, made sure to single out Odegaard for his starring role.

“He’s one of the best to manage the tempo of a game”, the Spaniard added. “He knows how to play or to slow things down.

“I value what he does, even after six weeks out. I see how he applies himself in training and when he’s in the team you notice the impact he has".

Gunners: Raya, Timber (Kiwior 87), Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori (Zinchenko 66), Odegaard (Nwanrei 82), Jorginho (Partey 46), Merino, Saka (Sterling 82), Jesus, Trossard