3 Positives & Negatives from Arsenal's 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest

3 positives & negatives from Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest

By Toby Hill | Oct 31, 2022

Arsenal's English midfielder Reiss Nelson (L) celebrates with Arsenal's English defender Ben White (R) after scoring their second goal during 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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Thomas Partey produced a stellar performance in midfield. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) /

Positive #3 – Arsenal’s trio in midfield played exceptionally well

The Gunners’ control of the match came from midfield. Partey, Odegaard and Granit Xhaka rarely put a foot wrong the whole match.

Whether it was Odegaard gliding past the oncoming defence before smashing the ball into the net or Partey playing passes through the lines into Xhaka or Gabriel Jesus, there was a level of class to the trio in midfield.

It was a performance that Arsenal will be hoping to replicate when other sides come to the Emirates, and much of their good work came in midfield.

Negative #3 – Jesus fails to find the back of the net

Taking nothing away from his all-around display, the Brazilian lacked when he was needed most. Jesus’ best chances came when Odegaard played him through and when White flicked the ball onto him at the back post. But in both cases, Arsenal’s #9 failed to score.

It’s starting to become a worrying trend; one that he had at Manchester City. Arsenal need a striker who is going to score goals. Even when Martinelli and Saka are contributing from the wings, it’s important that Jesus scores, too. Sunday’s match was the perfect one for a confidence boost.

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