Laboured Gunners secure three points v Forest after pre-game chaos outside stadium

Arsenal 2 Nottingham Forest 1   
Premier League   
Saturday 12th August 2023   1pm    

Although problems were expected with the new system whereby tickets were on a smartphone rather than a card, nobody could have anticipated the chaos that resulted in a 30 minute delay to the kick-off time. The turnstile readers were not functioning properly leading to huge numbers outside with a real danger of people getting crushed. Eventually, the decision was taken to open the gates and allow people in with just a quick flash of their ticket to a steward. This was a necessary intervention – one imagines on police instruction – with far less danger of a Hillsborough type scenario given people were in allocated seats as opposed to running to the nearest block entrance en masse. 

Nonetheless the crush outside, especially on the narrow confines behind the East Stand, was unpleasant and potentially very dangerous. Something went very, very wrong with Arsenal’s turnstile tech – if it were working there would have been no issue, as people heeded the message to be at the stadium in good time, but even those that got in before things got dangerous had delays before the reader turned green to allow them in. 

 

Fortunately there were a limited number of injuries, although paramedics did have to attend to one person outside Entrance H who I was later informed had suffered a seizure rather than being a victim of crushing. Nevertheless, I doubt the circumstances helped, especially as it took some time for medical personnel to reach the scene due to the overcrowding. 

 

Those who got in saw Arsenal take three points from their opening win, with an unexpected starting eleven. Thomas Partey played as an inverted right back, with Zinchenko unfit to fufill that role from the left and although Timber did a fair job coming into the midfield in pre-season, he played a more defensive game yesterday until his unfortunate injury, with Tomiyasu coming on for him early in the second half. Gabriel was dropped, with Ben White moving into the centre of defence. It didn’t really work and at Palace on Monday week, it might be better to bring back Gabriel, move Partey into midfield and use one of Havertz or Nketiah from the bench.

 

Arsenal dominated possession but looked far more off the pace then they did at the Community Shield. This was partly dictated by Forest playing deep and restricting space in the final third, and you felt that a goal would make all the difference. This after Forest’s Johnson spurned a one-on-one chance very early as Arsenal’s high line was exposed. Eventually the home side scored two goals in the space of six first half minutes. Martinelli’s brilliant back heel took out two players to allow Eddie Nketiah to carve out a nice chance in front of goal which he converted. Bukayo Saka made it two with a typical Saka goal from his left foot, from outside the area curling into the top left hand corner of the goal.

 

Forest didn’t really change their tactics greatly, meaning a limited number of chances for the Gunners over the remainder of the game. Declan Rice had two in the second half, hitting the post with one and seeing the other saved. It was underwhelming, but the points were the main thing. The side is still adapting to incorporating the three new players and lacks the fluidity of last season. It feels like a work in progress and the defensive issues are still there. The visitors pulled one back late on through sub Awoniyi, albeit after a foul on Havertz was missed in the build-up. All the same, Arsenal were chasing shadows as Forest broke, and more worryingly, a very similar move moments later saw the chance of an equaliser passed up with a wayward finish by Gibbs-White. Gabriel entered the fray in place of Martinelli at this point to help shore things up as White was moved to right back. The Brazilian central defender should start against Palace.

 

Mikel Arteta has stated that to win the title, his side will need between 96 and 100 points to finish above their rivals. Let’s say it’s 96. That would mean only 18 points dropped for the entire season. Based on yesterday’s performance, they will drop a lot more than that unless things are sorted out defensively. Forest had only 21% of the possession but still created enough dangerous chances to have taken something from the game. Yes, Arsenal were the better side – no doubt about that – but compared with Manchester City’s display the evening before away to Burnley, it felt like chalk and cheese. So, much as the three points are welcome, yesterday’s performance did not give huge cause for optimism. It was a case of job done, points in the bag, take some lessons and move on. 

 

The lineup in the Community Shield was good enough to get a draw against Manchester City, so perhaps Arteta felt he could afford to experiment against Forest to assess how Partey at right back works. Now we know. 

 

Other things to mention – the pitch looked surprisingly patchy in places for the start of the season. The leak from the roof on the halfway line of the East Stand continues to do its thing – in spite of there being no rain yesterday. And in the name of inclusion, Arsenal are now using a lad with one leg and crutches as a ballboy. I had to do a double take when I saw him struggling to get the ball to a player for a throw-in. Times have certainly changed. 50 years ago this would have felt like a Monty Python sketch. In fairness to the lad, he managed, so the best of luck to him. 

 

Ultimately, the game is about garnering points if you are going to successfully challenge in the Premier League. It might have been a laboured, uninspiring start, but in spite of not reaching top gear, the team delivered the required win,. If they correct the things that need attention, we should be in for another entertaining season.

 

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