Arsenal moved back ahead of Manchester City in the Premier League table following their 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners took just five minutes to open the scoring as Gabriel Martinelli continued his brilliant season with a stooping header from Bukayo Saka's cross. The England international's day only lasted around half an hour before he had to be substituted after struggling to shake off an ankle injury.
Mikel Arteta remains hopeful that Saka will be back in action before the World Cup, with Arsenal and England sweating over his fitness. Reiss Nelson came on to replace the 21-year-old and enjoyed an amazing cameo performance as he scored twice and provided an assist, with Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard rounding off the win.
READ MORE: What Mikel Arteta did as Reiss Nelson stunned the Arsenal fans in Nottingham Forest victory
football.london takes a look at how the national media reacted to Arsenal's emphatic 5-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal's Premier League feel-good factor rolled on with a dominant win over Nottingham Forest. Having suffered their first defeat of the season at PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday, the Gunners roared into the lead when Gabriel Martinelli headed home a Bukayo Saka cross after five minutes.
Just as in Arsenal's last Premier League home game against Liverpool, there was an early goal for Martinelli, and again it showcased how he's progressed as a footballer. Against Jurgen Klopp's side earlier this month, he showed a laser focus in front of goal as he drifted in from the left, and again here, there was great off-the-ball movement as he knocked the ball out to Saka and then burst into the penalty area to head home the Englishman's cross.
Saka went off injured with an ankle problem in the first half, replaced by Reiss Nelson, and the wide man struck twice at the start of the second half to extend the advantage and bury a well-beaten Forest. Thomas Partey fired home a fine fourth from distance before skipper Martin Odegaard smashed a fifth as the Gunners returned to the top of the league.
The main concern for Arsenal all season has been what happens when they rotate their squad and bring in less heralded players, and one win over Nottingham Forest doesn't change that, of course. It isn't so much the quality of those replacements which is the issue, but more the lack of experience. Moments like Nelson's two-goal cameo are so important in building up the confidence of those on the fringes.
There were two years and 107 days between Reiss Nelson's first league goal for Arsenal and his second. And three minutes and one second between Nelson's league goals number two and three. Now that's what you call a response – and so was this.
Arsenal dropped two points at Southampton last Sunday, were beaten by PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday, lost their place at the top of the table to Manchester City on Saturday – and then, what a comeback. The perfect riposte, an emphatic home win and back on top within 24 hours.
It is Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge, next which will be a test of more significance, but this was unequivocal and impressive, certainly given that Nottingham Forest's last outing brought a win over Liverpool. There was never going to be a repeat of that here. Forest was so obviously second-best from the moment the game started.
They enjoyed a brief revival before half-time when Arsenal seemed affected by the loss of Bukayo Saka, but Nelson took the game away from them at the start of the second half and, in the end, it could have been many more. Gabriel Jesus had a hand in three of the goals and probably could have scored the same number with better fortune. He last found the net on October 1, but by taking up the positions he does, and with this service, more goals will come.
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 a 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 Odegaard 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.
Arteta reverted to the team which started in the draw at Southampton last weekend following a midweek Europa League defeat by PSV Eindhoven. Forest's only change from the side, which stunned Liverpool last week, was Renan Lodi, promoted to the defence in place of Neco Williams.
The suggestion that Arsenal's heavy workload of Thursday night football was starting to take its toll was swiftly dispelled by their sharp start. It was an impressive response to their poor showing in the Netherlands, and this one-sided romp enhanced their hopes of taking the Christmas No 1 spot. Trips to Chelsea and Wolves before the World Cup break will test Arsenal's resolve, but Manchester City are being kept honest by a team that have won 10 of their opening 12 league matches.
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