Sublime Saka up to his old tricks again

THERE MAY have been a 30 minute delay to this match but Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka made it all worthwhile with a stunning goal in the 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest, reports the Voice of Sport from Emirates Stadium.

Turnstile issues caused the half hour delay but most were inside the north London venue as Saka curled home a left foot effort from 20 yards in the 32nd  minute. The England international will be key once more if Arsenal are to execute their lofty ambitions.

Eddie Nketiah had given the hosts the lead just six minutes earlier after Gabriel Martinelli had impressively found space in the Forest penalty area.

The start of a new campaign provides belief and expectancy is high at Emirates Stadium after last term’s second place league finish.

Having spent over £200 million on Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice that expectancy is now at fever pitch.

Having led the PL table for most of season only to fall at the proverbial last hurdle, there is still of pain the Emirates. The only way to banish those feelings is to lift the top flight trophy come next May. That will clearly not be an easy task, as Manchester City’s serene 3-0 win against Burnley last night underpinned.

Arsenal, fresh from last weekend’s Community Shield success over rivals City, dominated from the off. Ironically, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 11th minute when Brennan Johnson fluffed his lines when well placed.

Nketiah and Saka were not so wasteful and the Gunners were firing at this stage and Forest, who once again are likely to be scrapping for survival, were pleased to hear Michael Oliver’s half-time whistle.

Having been injured late in the first half, Timber had to be replaced by Takhiro Tomiyasu early in the second period after a leg injury.

Ola Aina, who for once was able to forget about shackling Saka and instead venture forward, had a rare shot for Forest as they showed signs of attacking life at last.

Rice was denied twice by Forest ‘keeper Matt Turner, who only left Arsenal for Forest in midweek. Rice will be a big player for the Gunners’ as time moves on, the signs are there as to why the home team forked out over a £100 million for the former West Ham man.

However, history says two-nil is a dangerous score line – and so it proved.

Forest new boy Anthony Elanga came on for Johnson with ten minutes to go and was to make an immediate impact.

Forest, from defending a corner, burst up the field with Elanga leading the pacy charge. The winger found fellow sub Taiwo Awoniyi who converted the pass to set up a nervy finish for all those of an Arsenal persuasion.

Moments later Morgan Gibbs-White fired over as the visitors sensed that they could eke out a point.

It was not to be for Forest and most in the Emirates left with Saka’s sublime goal uppermost in their minds.