Nottingham Forest made waves this week as owner Evangelos Marinakis surprised many by relieving manager Nuno Espírito Santo of his duties.
There has been much reporting on the situation, with a power struggle developing between Marinakis and new CEO Edu Gaspar against the manager that took the club into a European position last season.
With Nuno out and former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou brought in to replace him, Forest are embarking on a new era, one with plenty of risks and pitfalls.
The Sporting News brings you an overview of how Forest looked against Arsenal, as Postecoglou’s debut came against one of the contenders for the Premier League title.
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Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest recap, highlights
Arsenal spoiled Ange Postecoglou’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest as the Gunners won 3-0 at home thanks to a brace from Martin Zubimendi plus another from Viktor Gyökeres.
Mikel Arteta’s new signings were the difference in the match, as Zubimendi opened the scoring with an absolutely blistering volley off a corner just past the half-hour mark. The 26-year-old midfielder scored his first goal for the club in thumping fashion, as he ripped the ball past Matz Sels before it ever reached the ground.
Watch Zubimendi goal in USA:
MARTIN ZUBIMENDI’S FIRST ARSENAL GOAL IS A ROCKET. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/gl6wmPeZPs
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 13, 2025
Watch Zubimendi goal in Canada
With Arsenal 1-0 up at halftime, they scored less than 60 seconds after the halftime restart as Eberechi Eze received a long ball down the left side of the penalty area and squared it up for Viktor Gyökeres to double the lead.
Watch Gyokeres goal in USA:
Ebere Eze tees up Viktor Gyokeres as Arsenal’s new signings combine to make it 2-0. 🫢 pic.twitter.com/rj8432x1qs
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 13, 2025
The Gunners finished it off on another set piece as Zubimendi headed in at the back post on a flicked ball from substitute Leandro Trossard who had just come off the bench seconds earlier.
Watch Zubimendi goal in USA:
A second goal for Martin Zubimendi caps off a commanding win for Arsenal! 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/nXR0Z2l12C
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 13, 2025
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What did Ange Postecoglou say after Nottingham Forest debut?
New Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou, who was only hired just days before the match, said he “can’t fault the lads” after the defeat, praising their effort but said they could “never get a grip on the game.”
“I can’t fault the lads”
Ange Postecoglou reflects on ‘disruptive’ week after international break and looks ahead to the next few weeks with Nottingham Forest…
🎙️ @Becky_Ives_ | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/9kVBKkWYaV
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 13, 2025
“It hasn’t been an ideal prep for the players, and you have to take that into account.”
He said that he was intentional in avoiding too many alterations to the starting XI having precious little time to put his stamp on the team thanks to his late appointment out of the international break.
“Today I didn’t want to make too many changes to the lineup,” he told the media after the defeat. “It would be unfair on existing players and new ones. We can put a line through that now.
It’ll be the first phase, the first week for us.”
Postecoglou did say he would be implementing changes soon, however. “It won’t be weeks, it won’t be months, it will be Wednesday,” he said when asked how long it will take Forest to look like his, referencing the club’s EFL Cup third round match against Swansea in just a few days. “This isn’t a project.
“It won’t take long, I won’t let it take long.”
Martin Odegaard comes off injured
The one trouble for Arsenal was yet another injury for Martin Odegaard, who was forced off just 18 minutes into the match.
The Gunners’ midfielder had been carrying a shoulder injury from earlier in the season, and Mikel Arteta said he suffered a blow to almost the same exact area, meaning he could not continue.
The club will assess the situation and prepare a plan for his return moving forward, needing to understand the risks of putting him back out on the pitch with the possibility for reinjury.
