Arsenal ended their longest Premier League winless run of the season in emphatic fashion Saturday, dispatching Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium with a collection of spectacular goals to mark Mikel Arteta’s 250th match as manager.
Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock in the 15th minute with a masterful left-footed strike into the top corner after Martin Odegaard’s delicate setup, igniting a dominant performance that saw Arsenal control 66% of possession and prevent Forest from registering a single shot on target.
Thomas Partey, introduced at halftime for Jorginho, doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute with a sublime 25-yard strike into the bottom corner, connecting with Saka’s layoff to effectively seal Arsenal’s historic 2,000th top-flight victory.
The afternoon’s memorable moments weren’t finished, as 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri came off the bench to become Arsenal’s second-youngest Premier League goalscorer behind Cesc Fabregas, converting Raheem Sterling’s cutback with a precise finish in the 86th minute.
“We showed the response we needed after a difficult period,” Arteta said. “The quality of our finishing today made the difference, and it’s especially pleasing to see young Ethan get his first goal in such an important match.”
The victory, Arsenal’s first in the league since early October, cuts their deficit behind leaders Liverpool to six points. Forest dropped to sixth place following their second consecutive league defeat.
Saka, named man of the match for his goal and assist, exemplified Arsenal’s renewed energy following the international break. The Gunners had earlier seen Jurrien Timber’s early goal disallowed for a marginal offside before taking complete control, outshooting Forest 19-7 and earning eight corners to the visitors’ one.
“The team showed great character today,” Saka said. “We knew we needed this result, and the way we achieved it, with three beautiful goals and a clean sheet, makes it even more special.”
