Ethan Nwaneri marked his Premier League debut with a goal as Arsenal claimed a decisive 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, celebrating Mikel Arteta’s 250th match as head coach. The 17-year-old showcased his talent with a late goal, capping off a strong performance from the team, particularly highlighted by Bukayo Saka’s contributions, which included a goal and an assist.
Saka initiated the scoring in the 15th minute, weaving through defenders before delivering a powerful shot into the right corner of the net. He later set up Thomas Partey at the start of the second half, allowing the midfielder to curl a shot into the left corner for the second goal. Nwaneri then partnered with fellow substitute Raheem Sterling to net his first Premier League goal, adding a final touch to the Gunners’ impressive display.
With this victory, Arsenal equalized with Chelsea at 22 points but remained in fourth place, while Nottingham Forest slipped to seventh following consecutive defeats. The match had an earlier moment of controversy when Jurrien Timber’s goal was disallowed for offside, a call confirmed by VAR due to Mikel Merino being ahead in the play.
Arsenal’s relentless pressure was evident, with goalkeeper Matz Sels making crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable, including stops against Leandro Trossard and Saka. Ultimately, Nwaneri’s finish at the near post not only secured the win but also made him the second-youngest scorer in Arsenal’s Premier League history. Arsenal’s victory was their 2,000th in English top-flight history, just the second side to reach this milestone after Liverpool (2,068).
Post match comments from the coaches
Mikel Arteta: “I think we started really well. The sense I was getting in the last 48 hours after the international break, the boys coming together and were all at it. It was good to see the impact of the substitutes [Partey – goal; Nwaneri – goal; Sterling – assist]. Everyone has to feel important. It was a good afternoon.”
Nuno Espirito Santo: “They played well and we didn’t play so well. Arsenal were the better team. Second half we became more pressing but they killed us with the second and third goals. There’s not much to say. We have to improve because we did a lot of bad things – especially with the defending. Losing is always very painful. We came up short.”
