3 positives & 2 negatives from Arsenal's 3-0 win over Forest

As long as Arsenal have Bukayo Saka, the Gunners will stay in the thick of the Premier League title picture. Saka's goal and assist for Thomas Partey helped see off Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on Saturday. It was a day when 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri opened his league account and returning skipper Martin Odegaard underlined his value, but Gabriel Jesus continued to struggle, while the disciplinary record got worse.

For a rare time in recent weeks, Arsenal provided more positives than negatives. Mikel Arteta's team actually showed some imagination and verve in attacking areas.

Most of both qualities came from Saka and Odegaard, who's double act was irresistible at times against overwhelmed visitors. It helped to have Jorginho back dictating the output, albeit for only 45 minutes.

Partey came on for the bright but plodding playmaker on a yellow card at half-time. A goal added some gloss to Partey's day, but Arsenal are a more enterprising team with Jorginho in the starting XI.

Those cards, including one for Saka, should concern Arteta, given his team's dodgy disciplinary record. So should Jesus still looking out of sorts, despite being handed a boost by making a rare start at striker.

3 positives and 2 negatives from Arsenal's 3-0 win vs Nottingham Forest

Positive #1: Bukayo Saka gets better and better

A generally uninspiring start to the season has made it easy to overlook a simple fact that should have Arsenal's rivals worried. Namely, how the Gunners' best player is only getting better.

Saka put an exclamation mark on scintallating form by scoring a classy opening goal to break what had been stubborn Forest resistance. Just for good measure, he later teed up Partey to score the second, giving Saka eight assists in England's top flight this season.

That number makes the 23-year-old the chief provider in the land, as well as still being Arsenal's main attacking threat. Not bad for an academy graduate who began life in the seniors as a left-back.

Negative #1: What's with all the cards?

It's getting close to New Year's resolutions time, so here's one for Arteta's men. Cut down the yellow cards.

Saka, Jesus and Jorginho all went into the referee's book during the opening 45 minutes. For those wanting to tune up the band for another rendition of 'The Refs Hate Arsenal,' ditty, Saka's challenge on Forest captain Ryan Yates almost ventured into is it or isn't it a red territory.

There's an underlying problem at the root of Arsenal's lack of discipline. It's a two-fold issue that only begins with players feeling referees are out to get them. Rather than foster a siege mentality, this frustration has become petulance.

The other problem concerns Arteta's rush to pursue to so-called 'dark arts.' Many applaud Arsenal becoming more street-wise in the practices of time wasting and committing tactical fouls, but it leads to reckless bookings that ultimately stymie the more progressive aspects of the team.

Arteta found that out when an early yellow ultimately forced him to remove his conductor-in-chief.

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