Martin Zubimendi's thunderous volley gives Arsenal the lead against Nottingham Forest

Martin Zubimendi opened his Arsenal account in spectacular fashion with a thunderous first-time volley to put the Gunners ahead against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.

The 25-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad over the summer, lashed home from the edge of the box in the 32nd minute after a loose clearance fell invitingly into his path. The strike capped a dominant first-half display from Mikel Arteta’s reshuffled side and drew a rapturous response from the home crowd as ‘ref cam’ footage captured the full ferocity of the effort.

Arsenal made several selection surprises before kick-off, with captain Martin Ødegaard forced off early in the match due to a shoulder problem and Declan Rice left on the bench for the first time this season as Arteta managed the minutes of key players during a congested run of fixtures. Summer signing Eberechi Eze was handed a full debut in midfield alongside Zubimendi and fellow new arrival Mikel Merino, while Noni Madueke started on the right in the absence of Bukayo Saka.

The opener followed a corner, during the build-up to which Forest centre-back Murillo picked up an injury and was substituted, adding to the visitors’ misfortune. Forest, who have now lost each of their last six visits to north London, were left stunned as the volley flew past their goalkeeper and into the net.

Arteta’s decision to rotate his squad underlined Arsenal’s depth; Zubimendi seized his opportunity to make an immediate impact and to provide a striking example of the options available to the manager as he navigates a packed calendar. The goal also highlighted Arsenal’s continued dominance in this fixture: the club have scored 20 goals in their last seven home games against Nottingham Forest and remain unbeaten in their last 15 meetings in north London.

The goal came as Arsenal looked to maintain momentum in the Premier League while managing players’ fitness. With injuries affecting both sides during the sequence that led to the goal, the match continued to present fresh challenges for each manager. Zubimendi’s first strike for the club drew attention both for its technical quality and for the unusual camera angle that showcased the power and trajectory of the volley.

Arsenal will assess Ødegaard’s shoulder injury in the aftermath of the match, while Forest will need to review Murillo’s condition after his withdrawal. The result and performances from the rotated Arsenal XI offered evidence of the squad’s ability to adapt when key figures are rested or unavailable, a factor that could prove significant as the season progresses.