Postecoglou says Forest overhaul delayed but vows rapid change after 3-0 loss to Arsenal

Ange Postecoglou said his plans to reshape Nottingham Forest had not yet begun because of a disruptive first week in charge, but vowed a rapid turnaround after his side's 3-0 defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates.

Postecoglou was appointed as Forest manager on Tuesday following the sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis. Several Forest players returned from international duty to find a “totally different” set-up of new staff, faces and training methods, and the new manager said that influenced his decision to make few changes for the Arsenal match.

"The players only got back on Tuesday (from the international break)," Postecoglou said. "What they left to when they returned, what they inherited was totally different. New face, new voices, new coaching and new training. I just thought, today I didn't want to make too many changes to the line-up, because I think it would have been unfair both on the existing players but on the new players to be thrown into such a difficult game. But I think we can put a line through that now."

Arsenal won 3-0, with Martin Zubimendi scoring twice as the Gunners bounced back from their recent defeat by Liverpool. Postecoglou made a midgame substitution that saw Chris Wood come off the bench, and after the match he indicated that no player's place was guaranteed as he settled into the role.

Postecoglou said he would begin embedding his ideas immediately, pointing to Forest's Carabao Cup third-round match against Swansea on Wednesday as the point at which changes would be seen on the pitch. "It won't be months, it won't be weeks. It will be Wednesday. I cannot afford to waste time. This is not a project," he said.

He added that Forest had produced a strong season last year and needed to improve this campaign. "My job is to get us to where I want us as quickly as possible," Postecoglou said. "On Wednesday night, we will start seeing principles being embedded. It won't take long and I will not let it take long. I will make sure we turn it around because we have an unbelievable opportunity to make an impact this season, and I am not going to let that slip."

The defeat leaves Postecoglou with limited time to implement changes before competitive fixtures stack up, and his early comments underline a willingness to reshuffle personnel once he has had more time with the squad. Forest face Swansea in the cup three days after the Arsenal match, a fixture Postecoglou identified as the beginning of his hands-on work with the team.