Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest: Nketiah & Saka secure home win in EPL opener

Nketiah & Saka help Gunners begin the new EPL season with win, the final score is Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest.

Match Report

Arsenal began their season with a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, who set up a tense finish despite stunning goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka.

The Gunners fans were made to wait to see their team get in the groove - with kick-off at the Emirates Stadium delayed by half an hour due to turnstile issues - but a couple of slick strikes put them in control by half-time.

Gabriel Martinelli's stunning turn and flick allowed Nketiah to put a deflected effort past Matt Turner mid-way through the first half, before Saka's stunning effort into the top corner doubled the lead six minutes later.

Arsenal were cruising towards victory, with Declan Rice hitting the post and Forest providing little at the top end of the pitch. But Taiwo Awoniyi's goal back with seven minutes left caused a nervy end to matters at the Emirates.

Morgan Gibbs-White then curled what would have been an instant leveller over the bar but Arsenal held on for an opening weekend win.

What's next?

Arsenal face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park next Monday, live on Monday Night Football.

Meanwhile, Forest host newly promoted Sheffield United on Friday 18 August, kick-off 7.45pm.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start

13' CLOSE! Johnson misses a golden chance!

26' GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Nketiah)

32' GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Nottingham Forest (Saka)

45' ClOSE! Rice’s shot saved by Goalkeeper!

51' Injured Timber replaced by Tomiyasu

74' Trossard replace Nketiah

77' OFF THE POST! Rice nearly scores for Arsenal！

82' GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest (Taiwo Awoniyi)

82' AGAIN! Rice misses a good chance!

Line-ups

Arsenal XI: Partey, Martin Ødegaard, Rice, Havertz, Ramsdale, Ben White, Nketiah, Martinelli, William Saliba, Saka, Jurrien Timber

Subs: Trossard, Jorginho, Tomiyasu, Nelson, Gabriel, Smith Rowe, Karl Hein, Jakub Kiwior, Fábio Vieira

Nottingham Forest XI: Aurier, Boly, Aina, Scott McKenna, Mangala, Matt Turner, Joe Worrall, Gibbs-White, Ryan Yates, Brennan Johnson, Danilo

Subs: Kouyate, Wood, Freuler, Horvath, Taiwo Awoniyi, Niakhate, Lewis O'Brien, Neco Williams, Anthony Elanga