Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest: Player ratings as Gunners claim opening weekend win

By James Cormack

Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka is mobbed by teammates after scoring the team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 12, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / 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. / (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka is mobbed by teammates after scoring the team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 12, 2023. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / 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. / (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal’s first-half scorers. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s first-half scorers. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 8/10 – Saka’s strike was straight out of Arjen Robben’s playbook. Just devastating stuff. Ola Aina was the latest to feel the star boy’s wrath as he was withdrawn early after picking up a booking.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – 7/10 – Perhaps a surprise inclusion, but Nketiah made the most of his chance by crashing home Arsenal’s first goal of the season. Dropped in and effectively rotated with Havertz.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 8/10 – Relentlessly brilliant in the first half. Martinelli’s sequence of samba silk teed up Nketiah for the opener, and Forest’s right side couldn’t cope with him thereafter.

Substitutes

Takehiro Tomiyasu – 6/10

Leandro Trossard – 6.5/10

Gabriel – 6/10

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