Arsenal Beat Nottingham Forest in Premier League Opener
Owen Hargreaves says Arsenal will be ‘a problem’ in the Premier League again this season as they kick-started their 2023-24 campaign with a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka scored first-half goals as the Gunners made a rapid start to the new season after their opening fixture was delayed by 30 minutes due to issues with the ticketing system at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s New Signings Impress
Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi gave the visitors hope with a late goal but Arsenal, who finished second last season, held on to make a successful start to the new campaign.
Ex-England midfielder Hargreaves said Arsenal were ‘brilliant’ in the first-half and quickly proved they will be a ‘problem’ for their Premier League rivals this season.
Arsenal came close to winning their first league title since 2004 last term and will hope to go one better in 2023-24 after signing Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber this summer.
‘It was a brilliant first-half performance,’ Hargreaves said on Premier League Productions. ‘We had to wait a little bit with the delay but Arsenal were fabulous in that first 45 minutes.
‘All the new signings impressed and Gabriel Martinelli stole the show for me. Arsenal look like they’re going to be a problem this season.
‘The first goal was just individual brilliance from Martinelli. We know Nketiah is a good finisher but that goal was all about Martinelli.’
Mikel Arteta Praises His Team
Mikel Arteta was pleased with his team’s start against Nottingham Forest but bemoaned a loss of concentration that gave Steve Cooper’s side late hope.
‘It’s always difficult to win the first game of the season,’ he said. ‘We deserved to be in front but we didn’t kill the game.
