Arsenal cruise to 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest as Zubimendi stars and Mosquera impresses

Arsenal recovered from their defeat at Anfield to deliver a dominant 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Martin Zubimendi scoring twice either side of a Viktor Gyokeres tap-in.

Zubimendi opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a volley from outside the area and later added a header in the second half after Leandro Trossard's cross. The two goals were sandwiched around a close-range finish by Gyokeres, giving Mikel Arteta’s side a comfortable victory and a reminder of their title credentials.

Arteta's team dominated without needing to be at its attacking peak. The result offered an immediate response to last week's loss to Liverpool and underlined Arsenal's depth: Declan Rice started the match on the bench, William Saliba was omitted from the squad as he continues to recover, and influential attackers Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz remain sidelined with injury. That left opportunities for squad members to step up, and several did.

Twenty-one-year-old centre back Cristhian Mosquera, signed from Valencia for a reported £13 million, again put in a composed display. Mosquera had come on as a late replacement against Liverpool before the international break and was handed a start against Forest; he showed calm possession, accurate distribution under pressure and effective positioning against the front line of Chris Wood and others.

Zubimendi, a defensive midfielder signed amid interest from several top clubs, delivered both defensive stability and rare attacking moments. His first goal — a perfectly timed volley after a defender cleared a cross — broke the deadlock and was followed by a glancing header in the second half to complete his first career brace in 240 club appearances. While his primary role remains ball-winning and shielding the back line, the goals illustrated his occasional threat in attacking zones.

Forest arrived under new management, with Ange Postecoglou taking charge after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo. The match was Postecoglou's first in charge and, facing an Arsenal side intent on attacking, Forest did not employ the high defensive line and relentless forward press associated with the Australian from his Tottenham tenure. Instead, Postecoglou set his players deeper for much of the game as Arsenal probed and created openings.

Arteta had said in his pre-match press conference that he was looking forward to facing Postecoglou. On the pitch, Arsenal's control of the match — generating chances and managing possession in advanced areas — reflected both the quality of the starting XI and the strength of replacements available on the bench.

The win extends Arsenal's assertion that their squad depth can sustain a title challenge even when key figures are absent or not fully fit. Mosquera's integration into the back line and Zubimendi's unexpected scoring contribution were two of the clearest takeaways, while Postecoglou's cautious approach in his first match suggests a willingness to adapt his tactics to circumstances.

Arsenal will look to build on the performance as the Premier League season progresses, while Nottingham Forest will seek a response as they adjust to new management and try to arrest a run of results that now includes this defeat.