Arsenal emerge with a stunning win against Nottigham Forest
Arsenal XI: Martinez, Chambers, Holding, Mustafi, Tierney (77), Torreira, Willock, Nelson, Ozil (71), Smith-Rowe (45), Martinelli.
Subs: Macey, Bellerín (77), Bola, Burton, Ceballos (71), Saka (45), Balogun.
The debuts of Kieran Tierney and the returns of Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding boost a youthful Arsenal side to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the 3rd Round of the EFL Cup.
Arsenal got their first attempt on goal in the 7th minute from a Reiss Nelson freekick that just nicked the outside of the right post. The set-piece was won on the edge of the box by Gabriel Martinelli who held the ball up well after receiving a fizzed pass from Calum Chambers who had just finished off intercepting a Forest pass.
Martinelli then pounced on a loose ball in the box just a minute later, dribbling wide and having his shot blocked by a defender for a corner.
In the 12th minute, a good Calum Chambers cross that was cleared landed at the feet of Lucas Torreira who blasted it over the crossbar.
A minute later, some great skill on the edge of the box by Martinelli opened up some space towards the byline for Joe Willock who crossed it to a waiting Calum Chambers who couldn't get the right angle and shanked the shot into the video boards.
In the 15th minute, Martinelli takes advantage of a loose touch from Forest’s Chema and led a break that looked promising but ultimately led to nothing as Martinelli looked to miss an open Reiss Nelson to his left as he opted for Mesut Ozil to his right.
A 17th-minute corner almost provided a moment of sure madness as a Shkodran Mustafi back-heel flick just glides over the top corner of the goal.
Calum Chambers dribbles past his marker in the 24th minute and puts in a dangerous cross that finds Martinelli at the near post but his backheel goes off a defender for a corner which leads to flick on header that had nobody waiting for it on the back post.
A tough Joe Willock slide tackle outside of the Forest box in the 28th minute sprung Nelson lose to take on a defender and create room for a shot that is directly at the keeper.
Goal! A beautiful pass from Nelson finds Chambers on the right-wing who hit it crossed it on the volley and found Martinelli who darted past his man and headed it past the keeper. One-nil to the Arsenal in the 31st minute.
Just moments later Kieran Tierney beat him man to the byline and finds Ozil unmarked in the box but his shot is blocked by Chema who was in the right place at the right time.
In the 41st minute, Tierney flicked the ball past his man and puts in a gorgeous cross that finds Emile Smith-Rowe who heads it directly at the keeper. Smith-Rowe stays down after he took a knock on the header, and is loaded onto the stretcher.
Bukayo Saka comes on for Emile Smith-Rowe in the 45th minute.
Ozil got Arsenal back into gear in the second half as he won a free kick in the 51st minute after being stonewalled on the outside of the penalty area after a crafty run.
The free-kick led to a quick pass to Saka who was unmarked on the edge of the wall but couldn’t get a clean shot off as the defender closed him down.
Saka and Ozil threatened again in the 54th minute with some quick one-touch football on the edge of the box as Saka’s curved effort glanced off a defender and fell just wide of the post.
In the 56th minute, Nelson draws a booking as he raises a boot and collides with a defender that he didn’t see. Nothing malicious, but had to be given.
Saka beats his man to the byline in the 67th minute and flicks a beautiful ball to the back post that finds Willock but he shunts the ball wide. Should have been the second.
Nelson dribbles past his man easily and puts a gorgeous cross in that skips just past a stretched Martinelli and goes out for a corner.
Dani Ceballos comes on in the 71st minute for Mesut Ozil.
Goal! Rob Holding marks his much-anticipated comeback with a headed goal from a corner in the 71st minute. 2-0, Arsenal. Nelson with the assist.
The Emirates Stadium rises to their feet in the 77th minute as they welcome back Hector Bellerin who comes on for debutant Kieran Tierney.
The Emirates Stadium doesn’t get to sit for long as they are brought to their feet once again as Hector Bellerin gets behind the Forest defense and puts a gorgeous cross across goal that finds Willock to put the final nail into their opponent's coffin. 3-0, Arsenal.
Arsenal face Manchester United at Old Trafford next Monday.
Source [Arseblog.news]
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