Arsenal kickstart their Premier League 2023-24 campaign today (August 12) as they take on Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London. The Gunners finished 2nd in the table last season despite being at the top of the table for 248 days.
The North London club will welcome Forest at home, whom they thrashed 5-0 last season. Arsenal have also made three summer signings so far this season as Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz have arrived. It will also be a swift return for Matt Turner, who left the Gunners this week to join Nottingham Forest on a permanent transfer.

Full Time at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal start their campaign with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest. Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka scored the goals for the Gunners. Taiwo Awoniyi pulled one back for Forest but the Gunners held one for three points.
Anthony Elanga won a free-kick from a dangerous position for Forest. The ball from Morgan Gibbs-White falls for Kouyate, whose shot loops over the goal for a Gunners goalkick.
Arsenal come away with Leandro Trossard, as the Belgian made a robust run. Trossard's pass finds Odegaard, whose shot is blocked and the Gunenrs win a throw.
We will have 7 minutes added on at the end of this match. Kai Havertz meanwhile was through on goal but Serge Aurier intervenes.
Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard combined well and Havertz's cross is almost smuggled in by Bukayo Saka with a backheel.
Arsenal are on tight ropes at the moment. Forest are coming forward with purpose and the Gunners' failure to add to their two goals in 2nd half can have damaging ramifications.
Goaal! Taiwo Awoniyi has pulled one back. Excellent run from Anthony Elanga and Taiwo Awoniyi, Forest's birthday boy strikes a goal.
Declan Rice fails to catch his volley properly. The Arsenal new boy's shot loops and Turner sends it away for a corner.
Anthony Elanga is coming on Nottingham Forest. Brennan Johnson, who missed the early chance for Forest, is coming off.
15 minutes to go in the match plus stoppage times. Arsenal still have their two-goal cushion but the crowd wants more. Declan Rice comes close for them but his shot is superbly saved by Matt Turner.
Aaron Ramsdale is caught dwelling on the ball. Brennan Johnson slides down to cut Ramsdale's clearance, the ball hits Johnson's boot and loops as Ramsdale gathers it. Meanwhile, Arsenal are making a change - Leandro Trossard comes on for Eddie Nketiah.
Halfway through the second half. This half has mostly been at a pedestrian pace. Mikel Arteta would love his team to thrust forward and score some more, but we haven't seen any indications of that so far.
Willy Boly sends the ball and Worrall was close there for Forest. Set-piece is looking like the only way the away side can get themselves back in this match.
Bukayo Saka shows his trickery with the ball at the byline as he easily peeled away from the Forest defender. But one of the Forest defender makes a recovery and Matt Turner collects the ball.
Jurrien Timber is going out injured on his Arsenal debut. That is a blow for the Gunners as Takehuro Tomiyasu comes on to replace the Netherlands international.
The 2nd half starts and it looks like an uphill task for Forest to get something out of this match. The Gunners would love to score a few more goals. 18 touches in opposition box for Arsenal, compared to Nottingham's 3.
Arsenal will require two more unanswered goals to go top of the table in goal difference for now. Arsenal's title rivals Manchester City won 3-0 at Burnley in the opening match of the season.
Arsenal had 84% possession in the first half. The home side have also completed 398 passes, compared to Forest's 47 passes.
Half Time
A positive first-half performance - let's keep this going, Gunners ✊ pic.twitter.com/okUioQabrj
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2023
It is half time and Arsenal are leading 2-0 at the break. The Gunners took the lead through Eddie Nketiah and then Bukayo Saka scored a wonder goal to double the lead.
Jurrien Timber is given a Yellow Card at the flag end of the half.
Three minutes added in the first half. The new regulations in the time means we will be seeing more of these long stoppages in football matches.
Thomas Partey sends a long ball towards Bukayo Saka, but Aina heads it clear for an Arsenal throw-in.
Arsenal have completely changed the mood around the Emirates Stadium. They will be pushing more more goals now. Forest would be ruing the opportunity Brennan Johnson missed.
PICK THAT ONE OUT!! Saka, the Star Boy!!
🚀 PICK. THAT. ONE. OUT.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2023
🌶️ AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET FROM SAKA
🔴 2-0 ⚪️ (30) pic.twitter.com/uGT3flRTEN
Goaaaaaal!! An emphatic finish from Bukayo Saka. What a hit that was!! William Saliba won the ball high on the pitch, and Saka cuts in and then completes a superb curing finish past Turner.
Forest's Ola Aina receives the first card of the match after a synical foul on Bukayo Saka. It is a Yellow for Aina, as Arsenal come forward with Saka again.
Eddie NKetiah for Arsenal.
🤩 OUR FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON!
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2023
📞 EDDIE FIRES HOME AFTER AN OUTRAGEOUS MARTINELLI ASSIST
🔴 1-0 ⚪️ (26) pic.twitter.com/LkenXmUERC
Goaaaal!! Eddie Nketiah scores for Arsenal to give them the lead. The Gunners striker got the ball from a delightful Gabriel Martinelli pass, and then finishes exquisitely past Turner.
Arsenal have so far completed 180 passes, comparing to just 13 from Nottingham Forest. The Gunners also have maintained a 87 % possession so far in the first half.
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Lineups
Arsenal Predicted Starting XI: Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber; Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard; Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli
Nottm Forest Predicted Starting XI: Matt Turner; Joe Worrall, Willy Boly, Scott McKenna; Serge Aurier, Ryan Yates, Eliaquim Mangala, Ola Aina; Danilo, Morgan Gibbs-White; Brennan Johnson