Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
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Arsenal thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-0 at the Emirates on Sunday to return to the top of the Premier League, but the win may have come at a cost after Bukayo Saka limped off midway through the first half.
Saka’s replacement Reiss Nelson scored a brace to go with goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard. But the injury to the winger will be a major concern for manager Mikel Arteta and his England counterpart Gareth Southgate three weeks ahead of the start of the World Cup in Qatar.
Arsenal move to 31 points from their 12 games, two ahead of Manchester City, while an outclassed Forest remain rooted to the bottom of the table with nine points having played a game more.
Saka was excellent in the opening minutes and it was his cross that was headed into the net by Martinelli for the opener, but he went down injured shortly afterwards after a challenge from Forest’s Renan Lodi. Saka tried to continue but came off after 27 minutes.
Arsenal should have been further ahead at halftime but made sure of the points within the first 15 minutes of the second period as Nelson scored twice in quick succession, before Partey netted a stunning fourth with a curling shot from outside the box. Odegaard later blasted into the top corner from close-range.
Arsenal’s next Premier League fixture is a trip across London to Chelsea next Sunday, while Forest host Brentford the day before.
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
Substitution Takehiro Tomiyasu Fábio Daniel Ferreira Vieira
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
Forest have conceded 11 goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season - the most of any side in the division.
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
CHANCE! Johnson loses the ball to Odegaard and he releases Jesus in the box with an incisive pass. The forward fires at goal, but Henderson reacts to turn it past the right post. Jesus' drought in front of goal continues.
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
Substitution Jesse Ellis Lingard Emmanuel Bonaventure Dennis
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