Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Highlights: Bukayo Saka scores as Gunners start off new season with 2-1 win

Full Time: Arsenal 2 Nottingham Forest 1

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.

ARS 3 NFR 3 (95')

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.

ARS 2 NFR 1 (94')

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.

Added Time: 7 minutes

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.

ARS 2 NFR 1 (86')

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.

ARS 2 NFR 1 (82')

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.

ARS 2 NFR 0 (75')

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.

ARS 2 NFR 0 (68')

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.

ARS 2 NFR 0 (64')

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.

Timber Comes Off for Arsenal

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.

2nd Half Starts

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 vs Nottingham Forest LIVE Score

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 vs Nottingham Forest - Match Stats

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

Half Time: Arsenal 2 Nottingham Forest 0

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.

Added Time: 3 Minutes

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.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest LIVE Score: ARS 0 NFR 0 (42')

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.

🌶️ AN ABSOLUTE ROCKET FROM SAKA

🔴 2-0 ⚪️ (30) pic.twitter.com/uGT3flRTEN

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2023

Saka Scores - ARS 2 NFR 0 (32')

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.

Yellow for Aina

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!

📞 EDDIE FIRES HOME AFTER AN OUTRAGEOUS MARTINELLI ASSIST

🔴 1-0 ⚪️ (26) pic.twitter.com/LkenXmUERC

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2023

Nketiah Scores - ARS 1 NFR 0 (26')

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 vs Nottingham Forest LIVE Score: Passing Stats

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.