David Raya – 7
Marked slightly higher this week as there were no little lapses with his distribution. I’m still not sure if he touches that Chris Wood chested effort onto the bar or not but let’s give our number 1 the benefit of the doubt and call it a save. If he did save it, it was a key moment in the game where has came up trumps for us as if that goes in and make the game 2-1, it makes things very uncomfortable for us. Solid from crosses and distribution was good throughout. Another clean sheet on what was his 100th game for Arsenal (and record breaking 42nd clean sheet!)
Best moment:
Can only be the save from Chris Wood where he flew into the air to tip the improvised effort onto the cross bar.
Jurrien Timber – 8
Timber is just so aggressive in everything he does. Must be a nightmare to play against and try and get past. Contributed a bit more going forward to today as he linked up well with Madueke at times, lead to one brilliant run and cross that I think Declan Rice should turn home. Hudson-Odoi got nothing out of him all game.
Best moment:
Tempted to go with the run and cross that led to Declan Rice’s chance but there was one moment where Hudson-Odoi was goal side of Timber and he came back, made contact, wrestled for the ball for about a second before jogging away with it, almost effortlessly. Hudson-Odoi is a decent player but he looked bang average today, which was all done to Timber
Cristhian Mosquera – 8
I was tempted to mark him down for a 7 as I thought there were a few moments where he put us under pressure and his distribution was a bit slack at time. All things considered though, in what was his first Premier League game, this was still a really solid and confident display. Strong, quick, composed, reads the game well. Already striking up an impressive partnership with Gabriel.
Best moment: Made a great tackle to stop Hudson-Odoi getting a goal back from Forest but in truth this was due to his mixup with Jurrien Timber so I’ll go for the massive defensive header that he made to clear a dangerous cross late into the game. The ball went over Gabriel and we looked vunrable all of a sudden but Mosquera read the danger and threw himself at the ball to clear our lines.
Gabriel – 7
Seems to coast through games effortlessly these days. His rash, diving in days, seem long gone. Composed, aggressive and shut down Nottingham Forest’s attack, allowing them very little all game. A lovely sliding tackle to cut out a dangerous cross from Forest’s right and a few moments where he was just too strong for his opponents typified a fully committed performance from Gabriel. Some lovely cross field balls to the right wing as well.
Best moment: For me it has to be his block in the 94th minute to stop one last Nottingam Forest attack. He absolutely loves clean sheets and you can see it in him from minute one until the very last kick. The block itself wasn’t anything spectacular but it was just classic Gabriel, giving no inch to the opposition even when the game is already won.
Riccardo Calafiori – 6
Has definitely improved defensively but I still this was probably his worst performance of the season to date. Was by no means terrible but he had a few lazy lunges at players who skipped past him and the last one lead to a deserved yellow card for the big Italian. Going forward he was his usual marauding self, playing right back one minute and then centre midfield the next. Must be so hard for the opposition to keep track of his movements. Passing was good and his link up with Eze shows signs of real promise.
Best moment: Lovely ball into the channel for Eze in the build up to the second goal. Without that pass, there’s no goal, simple as that. Similar to the one he played to Gyokeres for his goal versus Leeds. Hopefully we’ll see more of this as the season goes on, he’s the only one who seems to play that early ball that Gyokeres loves.
Martin Zubimendi – 9
Goals aside, he really does seem to be the one that makes us tick right now. So busy, involved in everything, no one seems to get near him. Whether it’s little passes, interceptions or dribbling through the lines, everything seems to go through him in one way or another. Was never known to be a goal scorer but even in recent games for Spain’s he seems to be getting into advanced positions more and more and that was perfectly illustrated by his second goal, arriving late to nod him. His first goal was a display of real technical quality as we watched the ball out of the sky and made an unbelievable connection. Slight deflection on the way through but it was all about the contact. Tried the same trick a few minutes later so this is something that I hope to see more and more of this season.
Best moment: Has to be the first goal. Broke the deadlock and opened the game for us. Not a bad way to open your account with your new team. I think the Arsenal fans have (another!) new hero!
Mikel Merino – 7
Some lovely touches in midfield to turn away from pressure. Seems to have an extra second compared to everyone else. Should open the scoring early on but it was a great run to anticipate the chance in the first place. He will always be a threat in the box, so the goals will come with time. Some nice runs beyond as well as he linked up well with Eze to present Nwaneri with a chance from outside of the box. Played upfront for the final stages as Arteta opted to give Gyokeres a rest but no repeat of last season’s heroics in the centre forward position. Worked hard.
Best moment:
Some lovely footwork down by our own corner flag in the right back position. So calm and assured, he took the ball under pressure and played it out like he had all the time in the world.
Martin Odegaard – N/A
Went off very early with another (likely related) shoulder injury following a heavy fall.
Best moment: N/A
Noni Madueke – 8
Another player who brought his good international form back to the club. To be fair, Madueke’s form was very good before the break as well. Beat his full back time and time again. Should have had an assist or two but the most shocking thing about Madueke’s early days at Arsenal is that he is still yet to prove a goal or an assist. Won the free kick which lead to the third goal, got to the byline countless times, put in some lovely crosses as well. Corners were of a high standard as well. I don’t think anyone envisaged that Bukayo Saka might have to fight for that right wing position but he just much you know!!
Best moment: There are a few contenders but I would go with the drive to the byline where he cut the ball back to Timber only for Murillo to block it behind for a corner. The defender knew exactly what he was going to do but he just has no idea on how to stop him. So direct, but with great balance and skill as well. Not to mention an incredible turn of pace.
Viktor Gyokeres – 7
Quiet first half but came to life in the second. Always full of running, even if those runs were not always picked out by teammates. Took less than a minute of the second half to come to light as he tapped home an inch perfect Eze cross as he was in the right place at the right time. Had another good chance later in the half where he came in from the right, exchanging passes with Madueke before unleashing a thunderous shot which cannoned back off the post. It was a great strike but the build up was the bit that really stood out as he showed there is more to him than just goals.
Best moment: It was only a tap-in but it has to be his goal. A perfectly timed run to ease home a lovely cross from the left. Do Arsenal finally have the striker they’ve been craving for so long?!
Eberechi Eze – 7
A game of moments for Eze, but one moment was particularly important so this is of little concern. If Eze adds key contributions to swing games in Arsenal’s favour throughout the season, he will turn out to be an incredible signing, regardless of his overall performances. In the first half he had a few nice moments, including a lovely dart passed his marker on the left wing, but with the majority of the game going down the right, his influence was minimal. Came alive at the start of the second half to run into the channel and put an inch perfect cross into the path of Gyokeres. Some nice link up play with teammates at times but it feels like there is more to come from Eze.
Best moment: That perfect assist that gave Arsenal a much needed cushion of a second goal. So many times last season Arsenal looked vunrable with a single goal lead and it ended up costing a significant amount of points. That second goal cannot be under-stated and Eze made it.
Substitutes:
Ethan Nwaneri – 7
Not his most impactful appearance in an Arsenal shirt but this was far from a poor performance. A few nice carries through midfield where he ate up the ground and dragged us forward effortlessly and some nice passes to keep our attack ticking over. Always busy and had some nice link up play with fellow Hale Ender Eberechi Eze (had to squeeze that in somewhere!). It feels safe when he’s in possession and the fact that he’s generally playing positive passes, trying to push us forward the majority of the time is very impressive, especially as he’s still only 18!
Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6
Came on to give Calafiori a rest (and to reduce the risk of us going down to 10 men) and had a solid if unspectacular outing. Some good interceptions and blocks to keep Forest at bay but almost got caught on the ball in a dangerous position at one stage. Feels like he’s still feeling his way into this season and we’ve yet to see anything from him from an attacking perspective so far.
Declan Rice – 6
Not a bad sub to bring on when you’re 2-0 up! Brought energy to our midfield which helped us see out the game. Some lovely interceptions but really should have got on the end of Timber’s cross to make it 4-0.
Gabriel Martinelli – 5
Didn’t really come off for him in his brief cameo on the right wing today although not through lack of trying. I’m sure he’ll have time to find his way back into the team in the coming weeks as the games come thick and fast but this certainly wasn’t an advert for why he should be starting games.
Leandro Trossard – 7
7 is probably quiet a generous score given the amount of times he touched the ball during his brief appearance but a lovely cross to set up our third goal within seconds of being introduced was a moment of real quality. Are we going to see a return of the moody substitute from early last season that was so determined to prove a point during his cameos?! I sincerely hope so!!