Arsenal cruised to a 3–0 win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates in Ange Postecoglou’s first competitive game at the helm. Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi scored in each half, while Viktor Gyökeres netted in between to underline the Gunners’ new attacking dimension.
Forest, who struggled to create any meaningful threat, were second best from start to finish. The stats underline the gulf: Arsenal registered 16 shots to Forest’s 3, with an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.62 vs 0.07.
Madueke Impresses on Gunners Debut
Noni Madueke was electric on the right wing, silencing pre-season doubts around his transfer. His ability to go either way caused Forest’s backline constant problems.
“Madueke looks in electric form. He can go either way — right or left — and that’s very difficult to defend against,” noted one pundit, as the winger terrorised defenders throughout.
Trossard’s Instant Impact
The Gunners wrapped things up late when Leandro Trossard, just seconds after coming on, whipped in a pinpoint cross for Zubimendi. The Spaniard met it with a bullet header for his second of the game, sealing a perfect afternoon for Arsenal.
He wheeled away in celebration, tapping his head to the Emirates crowd — a sign of confidence as he grows into a pivotal midfield role.
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest — Key Match Stats
| Stat | Arsenal | Nottingham Forest |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 54% | 46% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.62 | 0.07 |
| Total Shots | 16 | 3 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 1 |
| Big Chances | 5 | 0 |
| Corners | 8 | 3 |
| Passes | 456 | 393 |
source: sofascore match data – 13 September 2025
The dominance is clear: Arsenal carved out chance after chance while Forest barely laid a glove on them.
Analyst Verdict – Bright Start for Postecoglou
FootballPlace analyst John William says Postecoglou’s debut could not have gone much better.
“Arsenal looked balanced, energetic, and ruthless. Zubimendi and Gyökeres gave them goals, but Madueke’s direct wing play stood out most. Postecoglou has made his mark quickly, and Arsenal’s forward momentum is clear.”
The only concern is whether the Gunners can maintain this level against stronger opponents in Europe.
Key Insights
- Zubimendi scored twice, assisted by Trossard for his second.
- Eberechi Eze provided a key assist for Gyökeres’ goal.
- Madueke shone on his Arsenal debut, tormenting Forest’s defence.
- Arsenal posted 16 shots and 5 big chances, compared to Forest’s 3 shots with 0.07 xG.
- Postecoglou’s first game in charge delivered a clean sheet and confidence boost.
What’s Next?
Arsenal will face Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League group stage next week — a far tougher test of Postecoglou’s tactical set-up. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, head to Swansea in the League Cup before returning to Premier League action.
👉 Can Arsenal carry this momentum into Europe, or was this simply a perfect debut day against weak opposition?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 13 Sep 2025 14:34
Consistent was last year his problem, lets see how he does under Arteta but it looks promising good... We might have sold the wrong one to Arsenal this time.
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