5 standout Arsenal players from opening day victory over Forest

5. Declan Rice

It was Declan Rice’s best performance in an Arsenal shirt so far, especially in the first half. He tested Turner a couple of times and probably should have scored, but he will be rippling the net later on in the season.

Always offering himself for a pass, he moved the ball very quickly and kept the Arsenal team flowing. He also put in a couple of beautiful tackles that should greatly encourage Arsenal fans. Considering how the Gunners camp in the opposition’s half, transitions and counter-attacks are often how they concede goals. Rice is an expert at sniffing these situations out thanks to his speed, athleticism and long legs.

Although the scoreline was not the most dominant, there were a lot of things to like about Arsenal’s season opener. The three points are all that matter.