LONDON — Arsenal’s Premier League opener featured a delayed begin and a nervy end earlier than ending in a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka scored first-half objectives as Arsenal heading for a snug win in a sport delayed by half-hour as a result of supporters couldn’t get into the stadium on time.
But substitute Taiwo Awoniyi pulled a aim again on a fast counterattack within the 83rd to offer the guests hope, though they by no means got here near an equalizer by seven minutes of stoppage time.
“Obviously it was a bit of a nervy finish, but we defended really well,” Nketiah stated. “It’s a good start, not just for myself but for the team.”
The kickoff was delayed after the membership’s new digital ticketing system malfunctioned to depart tens of 1000’s of supporters unable to get by the gates, earlier than the turnstiles had been finally capable of open.
Once the sport received began, it took Arsenal just a little greater than half-hour to make sure it was an disagreeable return to the Emirates for former Gunners goalkeeper Matt Turner, the United States No. 1 who solely accomplished his transfer from the London membership to Nottingham this week.
Turner was making his Premier League debut after solely being utilized in cup competitions by Arsenal final season.
Nketiah put Arsenal forward within the twenty sixth after being teed up by an attention grabbing help from Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian winger dribbled down the left flank after which took produced a spin transfer between two defenders and a backheel flick to Nketiah within the field, whose shot took a slight deflection earlier than sneaking previous Turner.
Saka then produced one other highlight-reel second simply six minutes later, chopping in from the appropriate and curling a left-footed long-range strike into the far nook previous the outstretched Turner.
Nketiah began rather than the injured Gabriel Jesus, after being on the bench for the Community Shield sport towards Manchester City final weekend.
“He trained like a beast this week, telling me ‘I deserve to play,’” Arteta stated. “So I had to play him, because he gave me every reason.”
All three of Arsenal’s summer time signings additionally began the sport, with Declan Rice and Kai Havertz enjoying in midfield and Jurrien Timber filling in at left-back for the not-fully-fit Oleksandr Zinchenko.
But Timber needed to go off with a leg harm early within the second half, whereas Rice had three efforts on aim saved by Turner.
U.S. worldwide Folarin Balogun was omitted of the squad utterly, with the striker anticipated to depart Arsenal earlier than the top of the switch window.
With Arsenal unable to construct on its lead, substitute Anthony Elanga sparked hopes of a comeback when he ran the size of the sector on a counter following an Arsenal nook and squared the ball for Awoniyi to complete from shut vary.
Forest couldn’t check Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale once more, although, with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard coming the closest to scoring in stoppage time with a shot over the bar.
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