Alious
Arsenal flexed their title-chasing muscles with a commanding 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, ending the visitors’ unbeaten away record in emphatic fashion. The match highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides, with Forest’s defense particularly struggling to contain Arsenal’s attacking threats.
Forest’s task was made harder by the absence of key players Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson through injury, while Chris Wood could only make the bench after international duty with New Zealand. Against an Arsenal side desperate to maintain their title challenge, these absences proved costly.
While Bukayo Saka, fresh from withdrawing from England duty, caused immediate problems, it was £21 million man Leandro Trossard who particularly caught Nuno Espirito Santo’s eye. The Forest manager specifically highlighted Trossard’s impact, noting how the Belgian created persistent problems alongside Martin Odegaard and Saka. Trossard gave Forest’s usually reliable Ola Aina a particularly difficult afternoon, completing three successful dribbles and showcasing the quality that has made him such a valuable asset for Arteta’s side.
The defeat leaves Forest with some soul-searching to do, especially with their upcoming fixture against Ipswich now taking on added importance given the challenging run of games that follows. While Aina has been a standout performer this season, this tough outing against Trossard won’t define his campaign.
Interestingly, the match came on the same day that former Forest manager Steve Cooper was dismissed from his role at Leicester City, creating a sense of déjà vu almost exactly a year after his departure from the City Ground under similar circumstances.
Alious
