Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest score, result as Gunners win 2023/24 Premier League opener on Saka, Nketiah goals

Arsenal kicked off their 2023/24 Premier League season with a 2-1 home victory over Nottingham Forest, a scoreline that appears closer than it actually was for large stretches of the match.

Eddie Nketiah (26th min.) and Bukayo Saka (32nd min.) scored first-half goals and Arsenal appeared to be cruising, unbothered by a toothless Nottingham Forest attack.

But Forest substitutes Taiwo Awoniyi and Anthony Elanga combined to get a late goal for the visitors inside the final 10 minutes to make for a nervy ending for the Gunners, who are expecting to contend for the league title again this season.

After a 30-minute delay caused by issues with a new ticket entry system at the Emirates Stadium, the match finally kicked off and followed a predictable script.

But the contest could have taken an unexpected turn had Forest’s Brennan Johnson put away a 1-on-1 opportunity against Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale which preceded Arsenal’s two strikes.

With the win, the Gunners keep pace with three-time defending champions Manchester City, who won their opener the day before at Burnley. Arsenal next travel to play Crystal Palace (Monday, Aug. 21), while Nottingham Forest are at home to Sheffield United on Friday (Aug. 18).

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest final score

Lineups:

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Ramsdale (GK) — 5. Partey, 4. White, 2. Saliba, 12. TImber (18. Tomiyasu 51′) — 8. Odegaard, 41. Rice, 29. Havertz — 7. Saka, 14. Nketiah (19. Trossard 73′), 11. Martinelli (6. Gabriel 86′)

Nott’m Forest (5-3-2, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 24. Aurier, 30. Boly, 4. Worrall, 26. McKenna,  43. Aina (7. N. Williams 72′)— 22. Yates, 28. Danilo (9. Awoniyi 72′), 5. Mangala — 10. Gibbs-White, 20. B. Johnson.

Arsenal get a scare in opening game

Arsenal nearly did what Manchester City did a day before to comfortably see out inferior opposition from wire to wire. But while City kept a clean sheet, the Gunners let Forest back into the game.

When Anthony Elanga connected with Taiwo Awoniyi, who didn’t start because of an ankle issue, after recently returning to training, you could sense the angst at The Emirates. It was a similar scenario to ones that cost Arsenal key points last season.

In truth, Arsenal never hit third gear in this match and were fortunate that magical plays from Gabriel Martinelli (on the assist to Nketiah) and Bukayo Saka gave them a comfortable lead. But they needed another goal and never turned up the pressure to bury their opponent.

For stretches it felt like a lazy preseason match with little urgency, pace and rhythm. And Arsenal didn’t create nearly enough danger for the dominance they showed. That’s not going to be good enough over the course of a 38-match season.