Postecoglou off to losing start as Arsenal's Zubimendi brace punishes Forest
BRACE: Arsenal's Spanish defender Martin Zubimendi (2L) celebrates scoring the team's first goal. Pic: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images
ANGE POSTECOGLOU might have an even bigger challenge making a success of his second managerial job in the Premier League than his previous one after his sorry Forest side was schooled by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
The former Tottenham coach, back in the big time 95 days after being sacked by Arsenal’s arch rivals, promised entertaining, attacking football, and he did not disappoint. The problem for the big Aussie and his new club is that all the entertainment came from an Arsenal side lacking injured star forwards and on the back foot after losing at Liverpool last time out.
Two goals from Martin Zubimendi, either side of a Viktor Gyokeres strike, were no more than Arsenal deserved as the scoreline flattered a Forest side blessed with quality players, but not at Arsenal’s level.
Postecoglou largely stayed with his predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. He might look to make changes after this performance as they struggled from the start. First Mikel Merino, who scored a hat-trick for Spain in midweek, missed a sitter right in front of goal after five minutes and then his Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard, landed badly on the injured shoulder that kept him out io the Liverpool match last time out.
He was duly substituted soon after as teenage prodigy Ethan Nwaneri replaced him in a switch that some seasoned Arsenal watchers would see as an upgrade rather than a setback.
And so it proved as Arsenal looked even more dangerous going forward, eventually taking the lead through Zubimendi’s breathtaking 32nd minute right-foot volley from outside the area. Quite a first Arsenal goal for the Spanish midfielder, signed for his defensive qualities.
The goal came from a clearance from a Noni Madueke corner. The summer signing from Chelsea was unplayable at times, ghosting past left back Morato at will until the Brazilian defender moved into the centre to take over from the injured Murillo.
No wonder all of Arsenal’s attack was down the right with Madueke, standing in for injured Bukayo Saka, so effective.
Forest raised their game going into the break as Morgan Gibbs-White shot narrowly wide in their best attack of the match, reminding Arsenal they needed to get at least a second to make the match safe.
That came from the left, only 46 seconds into the second half. Riccardo Calafiori pinged a long pass down the flank to debutant Eberechi Eze, and the England man crossed first time for poacher supreme Gyokeres to slide in from close range. Just the sort of direct, simple goal Arsenal have been missing in recent seasons.
Postecoglou watched on helplessly, hands in pockets in the Forest technical area, as Gyokeres then smacked one against a post for opponents out of his side’s class. He finally made a couple of changes with half an hour to go. His job really starts on the training ground next week, having had so little time to influence this clash.
Arteta was able to send on two senior England internationals in Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly to make Forest’s task even harder for the final 20 minutes or so.
Another quality substitute, Leandro Trossard, used his first touch of the ball on 79 minutes to curl a tantalising cross to the far post, where Zubimendi rose to head in a rare header and Arsenal’s deserved third goal.
: Raya 7, Timber 6, Mosquera 7, Gabriel 8, Calafiori 7 (Lewis-Skelly 68), Zubimendi 8, Merino 6, Odegaard 5 (Nwaneri 18), Eze 7 (Trossard 78), Madueke 8 (Martinelli 78), Gyokeres 6 (Rice, 68). Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, White, Dowman
Sels 6, Williams 6, Murillo 5 (Savona 37), Milenkovic 6, Morato 4, Anderson 6, Sangare 6 (Yates 73), Gibbs-White 6 (McAtee, 73), Ndoye 5, Hudson-Odoi 5 (Kalimuendo 60), Wood 5 (Bakwa 60). Subs: Victor, Hutchinson, Boly, Luiz.
: Darren England 3
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