Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest: Player ratings as Gunners run riot

By James Cormack

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli holds up the shirt of Arsenal's Spanish defender Pablo Mari (recently injured in a stabbing incident in Italy) as he celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 30, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli holds up the shirt of Arsenal's Spanish defender Pablo Mari (recently injured in a stabbing incident in Italy) as he celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 30, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table as they recorded a convincing 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.

Gabriel Martinelli eased any tension in the Emirates following Thursday’s defeat as he gave the Gunners the lead in the opening exchanges amid a dominant start from the hosts.

The visitors weathered the early storm, however, and slowly worked their way back into the contest before half-time.

An Arsenal blitz at the start of the second half put the game well beyond Forest as substitute Reiss Nelson struck twice before Thomas Partey added a fourth with a thumping finish from distance.

Mikel Arteta rang the changes which established a brief malaise in proceedings before Martin Odegaard bagged Arsenal’s fifth with a fine finish. The skipper’s effort was the final act in a stellar second-half showing from the Gunners, as they bounced back from their defeat to PSV in style.

Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest player ratings

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from their dominant victory over Nottingham Forest.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

William Saliba was back to his best on Sunday. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
William Saliba was back to his best on Sunday. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) /

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – 6.5/10 – Finally, an Emirates clean sheet for Ramsdale in the Premier League!

Ben White (RB) – 8/10 – Such performances from White are becoming the norm. The Englishman exudes calm on the field, rarely ever looking troubled in possession. He performed well in defensive transition, and had a hand in Martinelli’s opener by getting on the overlap.

William Saliba (CB) – 7.5/10 – This was much more like it from Saliba. The Frenchman dealt with Taiwo Awoniyi handily, matching the striker both physically and stride-for-stride. Back to his best.

Gabriel (CB) – 6.5/10 – Gabriel tried his utmost to gift the visitors an equaliser before half-time as he fed Jesse Lingard in the box for a good chance. The Brazilian was otherwise comfortable in defence and he sought to drive out of the backline in possession when required.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (LB) – 7/10 – A steady performance from the Japanese international, who helped Arsenal overload Forest’s press by almost constantly drifting infield and he looked more comfortable in a central position.

Continued on the next slide…