Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest Player Ratings: Martin Zubimendi Rated 9.5/10 as the Gunners Secure a Dominant Victory

Arsenal got a statement win against their opponents. They destroyed a struggling Nottingham Forest side at the Emirates Stadium, running out comfortable 3-0 winners. From our perspective, this Premier League encounter was one-way traffic from the first whistle to the last. The Gunners were relentless, and Forest simply had no answers.

The match wasn't without its drama, though. We saw Martin Ødegaard forced off with an early injury, a real blow for the home side. But his replacement was part of a midfield that took complete control. The breakthrough eventually came from an unlikely source, a stunning long-range effort from Martín Zubimendi.

Forest's woes were compounded by an injury to their own defender, Murillo, before halftime. Right after the break, Viktor Gyökeres doubled the lead, effectively ending the contest. Zubimendi then added a third with a well-taken header to cap off a Man of the Match performance in this match, sealing a dominant victory that sends a message to the rest of the league. Here are the Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Player Ratings.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Here are the Arsenal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: Had one of the quietest afternoons he'll ever have in an Arsenal shirt. He only had a single save to make all game, which he handled with ease. His distribution was crisp and accurate, launching a few attacks from the back. We noticed his positioning was always spot on, even if he wasn't tested. A simple, effective day's work.

Defenders

Cristhian Mosquera - 7.5: A very composed and mature performance from the defender. He was excellent on the ball, boasting a 92% pass accuracy, and never looked flustered. What stood out to us was how he won all his ground duels, showing real strength and timing. He was a steady presence at the back throughout.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.5: Another commanding display from the Brazilian. He was a defensive wall, making crucial clearances and interceptions. He even ventured forward and was a threat, though he'll be disappointed to have missed a big chance from a header. From our perspective, his aggression set the tone for the defence.

Jurriën Timber - 8.0: What an all-action performance. He was a dynamo down the flank, contributing defensively and offensively. He won an impressive eight duels and was always looking to get forward, even creating a big chance. It felt like he had the freedom of the pitch and used it brilliantly. A truly impressive display.

Riccardo Calafiori - 6.0: A mixed bag from Calafiori. He showed some decent touches and contributed to the build-up play. However, he was a bit rash in the challenge, picking up a yellow card for a poor tackle. He was substituted after 68 minutes, and it felt like a necessary change to avoid a potential red.

Midfielders

Martin Ødegaard - 5.0: It was a real shame to see the captain forced off so early. In his 18 minutes, he was just starting to feel his way into the game. We can't really give a full rating, but his absence was thankfully not felt. Hopefully, the injury isn't too serious.

Mikel Merino - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular game in the middle of the park. He kept possession moving and recovered the ball well on eight occasions. He missed a big chance that he should have buried. A decent engine room performance, but he was overshadowed by his midfield partner.

Martín Zubimendi - 9.5: Absolutely sensational. The undisputed Man of the Match. His first goal from outside the box was a thing of beauty, a pure strike that set Arsenal on their way. He followed it up with a clever header for his second. Beyond the goals, he was everywhere, controlling the tempo and breaking up play. A masterclass performance and the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Forwards

Eberechi Eze - 7.5: He was a creative force for the Gunners. His assist was perfectly weighted, and he was always looking to make something happen. We noticed his quick feet and vision caused all sorts of problems for the Forest defence. A very lively and effective performance before he was subbed.

Viktor Gyökeres - 8.0: A proper striker's performance. He took his goal with great composure right after halftime, a crucial moment in the game. He was unlucky to hit the post later on. While he did miss another big chance, his goal was clinical, and his presence was a constant nuisance for the defenders.

Noni Madueke - 8.5: Terrific performance out wide. He was a nightmare for his fullback, creating a staggering five chances and attempting seven dribbles. While his final ball from crosses could have been better, his directness and confidence were a joy to watch. He was the main creative outlet for large parts of the game.

Substitutes

Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard: The substitutes came on and seamlessly slotted into a dominant team. They maintained the team's high tempo and helped see out the comfortable win with professionalism. None had to be spectacular, but they all played their part.

Manager

M. Arteta - 8.5: His game plan was executed to perfection. Arsenal were aggressive, fluid, and completely in control. He dealt with the early injury to his captain well, and his team never missed a beat. A tactical victory where his side looked a class above.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Here are the Nottingham Forest Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Matz Sels - 5.0: A difficult day for the keeper. He was left exposed by his defence for all three goals. He only made two saves, and from our perspective, he looked a bit helpless as the shots rained in. Couldn't do much, but it's never a good look to concede three.

Defenders

Neco Williams - 4.5: A really tough outing for Williams. He was tormented by Noni Madueke all game. He ended up with a yellow card and was dribbled past twice. He struggled to make any impact going forward and was pinned back defensively. A day he'll want to forget quickly.

Morato - 5.0: He had a very busy and difficult afternoon. An error he made led to a shot, which summed up the pressure he was under. Part of a backline that was pulled apart time and again. He battled, but was ultimately overwhelmed by Arsenal's attack.

Murillo - 6.0: Before his unfortunate injury, he was arguably Forest's best player. He made a number of important clearances and interceptions. It felt like he was holding things together at times. His departure was a huge blow to a defence that was already creaking.

Nikola Milenković - 4.5: A surprisingly passive performance. He won just one of his four duels and seemed off the pace. We expected him to be a commanding presence, but he was anything but. He was often chasing shadows and failed to impose himself on the game at all.

Midfielders

Ibrahim Sangaré - 5.5: He tried to put himself about and won his tackles. However, the midfield battle was completely lost. He spent most of his time chasing the ball as Arsenal passed around him. Subbed off in the second half as his influence waned.

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 5.0: Almost anonymous. He barely got on the ball in dangerous areas and offered very little threat. His high pass completion doesn't tell the story of a player who failed to impact the game in any meaningful way. It was no surprise when he was hooked after an hour.

Elliot Anderson - 6.5: One of the few Nottingham Forest players to emerge with any credit. He worked his socks off, recovering the ball 11 times and winning eight duels. He was constantly trying to get his team on the front foot. A tireless performance in a losing cause.

Morgan Gibbs-White - 5.0: A really poor day for the captain. He was unable to get into the game or influence proceedings. He lost the ball cheaply and looked frustrated. You expect your leader to grab the game by the scruff of the neck, but he was a passenger.

Dan Ndoye - 5.5: He showed some flashes of intent with his dribbling, but it often led to nothing. He was busy and tried to make things happen, but lacked the quality to unlock the Arsenal defence. Worked hard but was ultimately ineffective against a superior opponent.

Forwards

Chris Wood - 5.5: It was a thankless task for him up front. He was completely isolated and fed on scraps. He did manage one shot on target which was saved, and hit the woodwork from a half-chance. He battled against the centre-backs but had virtually no service.

Substitutes

Nicolò Savona, Dilane Bakwa, Arnaud Kalimuendo, James McAtee, Ryan Yates: The substitutes were thrown into a losing battle. They ran hard and tried to make an impact, but the game was already lost. They were unable to change the momentum against a rampant Arsenal side.

Manager

A. Postecoglou - 4.0: From our perspective, his team was tactically outclassed. They had no plan to deal with Arsenal's relentless pressure and offered no threat on the counter. The team looked disjointed and were second best in every department. A very bad day at the office for the manager.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match goes to Martin Zubirmendi.