Arsenal reclaimed top spot in the Premier League after sweeping aside Nottingham Forest with Reiss Nelson the unlikely support act in the rout. Nelson proved a more than handy replacement for the injured Bukayo Saka with the winger, who spent last season on loan at Feyenoord, scoring two goals in three minutes at the start of the second half to propel Arsenal to their biggest win of the season.
Despite lasting only 27 minutes, Saka still created the opening goal with Gabriel Martinelli heading home to cast aside any notion of travel fatigue from Mikel Arteta’s pacesetters. Nelson took full advantage of his rare opportunity with a quickfire double before Thomas Partey electrified the Emirates with a thumping fourth. Martin Ødegaard added the fifth goal for the rampant hosts to complete a ghastly afternoon for Forest. In truth Steve Cooper’s spooked team never threatened Arsenal and the chasm was predictably wide between the league’s top- and bottom-placed clubs.
