The Premier League returns with a fixture between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest with lots of changes for both squads. Ange Postecoglou was hoping to get off to winning ways with his first game with Nottingham Forest but Arsenal had different ideas. The score was Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest. Here are some key takeaways.
Eze’s service, specifically to Gyökeres, will be pivotal in Arsenal’s creation this year. Eberechi Eze’s ball into the middle for the Swedish striker to make it 2-0 just a few minutes. Some of the existing attackers / midfield struggled to get the ball into Gyökeres’ feet, but in his first start, Eze was able to get a goal contribution and goal for the main number 9 at Arsenal. He could help introduce a precedent of service for the season.
Despite his quotes, Ange Postecoglou will need time to acclimate to Nottingham Forest’s system. Forest isn’t Tottenham, and the personnel will have to be managed differently by Ange if he wants to see success. European competition is part of the objectives for Forest this season and there will be pressure to perform. A first game away at the runners up from last season is a tall ask for a new manager and he must be given time before he starts picking up results.
Arsenal have goal-scoring prowess throughout the entire team. Zubimendi’s brace reminded us of the versatility of the goal-scoring ability of the gunners. They can score from anywhere on the pitch, from anyone on the pitch. Even with the incoming striker they were long calling out for, the rest of the team will still heavily contribute to the attacking output of Arsenal in this campaign.
Forest may not be the team they were last season. We already knew the team would look slightly different with the departures of the likes of Elanga, Danilo, Jota Silva and so on. But ultimately the novelty that came with last season’s achievements have worn off and the pressure to repeat and perform will likely play a part in their ultimate league finish.
This season’s dynamic is different than the last. The last season showed a weakness of large teams, who would often cede points to various random teams that most would expect would not be an issue. This season, those teams that managed a positive result away, may find themselves struggling to keep up with these new super squads of Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool.