3 positives & negatives as Arsenal edge past Nottingham Forest
![LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Gabriel of Arsenal is embraced by his manager Mikel Arteta after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on August 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Gabriel of Arsenal is embraced by his manager Mikel Arteta after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on August 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7f0d0d3e2a28964a901d22157b1a3d09ac823da36bed689b0eaa324113cc8ebe.jpg)
Positive #3: Eddie Nketiah answers again
Nketiah seems to divide opinion among the fanbase, but whichever side of the debate you fall on, it is undeniable that when relied upon from the start of a match, the 24-year-old is capable of scoring goals in the Premier League.
He proved that last season when deputising for the injured Gabriel Jesus, and he started this campaign in the same vein.
His all-around game certainly requires improvement, but it is also worth noting that at his relatively young age, it is very rare for a striker to be the finished article. Nketiah isn’t a world-class striker, but he is certainly good enough to be an understudy to Jesus this season.
Negative #3: No clean sheet
The final negative from the match was the absence of a clean sheet. Our defensive frailties were a key factor in our collapse towards the backend of last season, and if we are going to win silverware this year, we must start keeping clean sheets in games of this nature once more.
We limited the number of clear chances the away side were able to create very well, however, a single lapse of concentration allowed Forest the chance they needed to score, and that is an area we can improve in.
It may seem very early on in the season to be discussing the importance of goal difference, but against juggernauts such as that of Manchester City, every goal matter, even in the first game of the season.