Arsenal ruined Ange Postecoglou’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest as Martin Zubimendi’s double sealed a 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Zubimendi bagged his first goals for the Gunners following his close-season move from Real Sociedad.
The Spain midfielder opened the scoring in the first half and netted again in the closing stages after Viktor Gyokeres doubled Arsenal’s lead soon after the break.
Arsenal’s third win in four games took them to the top of the table on goal difference ahead of Liverpool, who face Burnley on Sunday.
A 1-0 defeat against champions Liverpool in their last match before the international break had punctured the optimism at Arsenal after successive wins against Leeds and Manchester United to start the season.
But this was the kind of confident display, highlighted by Noni Madueke’s virtuoso performance, that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta believes will keep his side in contention to win the title.
The only dark cloud for Arteta was an injury to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who was forced off in the first half with what looked like a shoulder problem.
Odegaard joined a lengthy injury list that already includes Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and William Saliba.
It was a frustrating return to north London for Postecoglou, just three months after he was unceremoniously sacked by Tottenham despite winning the Europa League last season to end the club’s 17-year trophy drought.
Postecoglou was hired by Forest this week following Nuno Espirito Santo’s dismissal after his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis collapsed.
Marinakis immediately piled pressure on Postecoglou, who presided over Tottenham’s worst top-flight finish since 1976-77 last season, by claiming Forest were in a position to challenge for major trophies.
However, the Australian did not win a north London derby as Tottenham boss and was unable to guide Forest to their first victory on Arsenal turf since 1989.
