Arsenal came into their clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday with narrative bursting at the seams.
Ange Postecoglou had recently been appointed as the Forest boss and considering his past association with Spurs, there were a few pre-game jitters that he’d return to English football and upset Mikel Arteta’s side.
It’s safe to say the Spaniard made sure that was never a scenario this weekend, even with key men missing through injury.
Arsenal’s starting XI did not include the likes of William Saliba and Bukayo Saka who were absent through injury while Martin Odegaard limped off early in proceedings with a shoulder injury.
That mattered not for the north Londoners who defeated Ange and Co 3-0 courtesy of a double from Martin Zubimendi and a third goal in four matches from Viktor Gyokeres.
In defence, Arsenal’s backline barely gave the visitors a sniff but in the final third, they were relentless, largely thanks to their new signings.
How Arsenal’s new signings fared against Nottingham Forest
Last season, the Gunners were hamstrung by injuries, particularly to the forward line.
Saka missed large parts of the campaign, as did Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, which meant they had to play with Mikel Merino up top.
Coincidentally, Arsenal came into this game without that trio again; they also came into the encounter without star centre back Saliba.
Arsenal’s William Saliba reacts
In years gone by, absences such as those have hindered Arteta’s side, but they didn’t on Saturday.
At the back, Cristhian Mosquera put in a phenomenal performance and at £13m, he looks like one of the biggest bargain signings in the Premier League this summer.
At Anfield two weeks ago, the Spaniard was forced into the game early on due to Saliba’s injury and his first test in English football was an impressive one, even if they lost 1-0 to Liverpool.
A fortnight later, Mosquera was part of a backline that kept a well-earned clean sheet. He looked like the best defender on that pitch, notably making a last-man tackle in the second half that Saliba would have been proud of.
Mosquera is quick, he’s aggressive, he’s composed and above all, he’s a battler. Against Forest, he barely put a foot wrong, ultimately winning three of his four duels.
In the middle of the park, fellow Spaniard and fellow new signing Zubimendi was superb. His rocket of a finish opened the scoring and then he rounded off a brilliant victory by scoring just the third header of his senior career, leaping high to head home Leandro Trossard’s cross.
Gyokeres also caught the eye. The Swede has attracted criticism in the early weeks of the season but there is one simple fact; he’s a goalscorer. After Arsenal beat Forest, no player had scored more goals in the top flight this season.
His supply line was perhaps the best it’s been all season, and that was thanks to a duo who were evoking memories of Saka and Emile Smith Rowe. You know how the song goes.
Arsenal’s new Saka and Smith Rowe
When Arteta became Arsenal manager it wasn’t a straightforward adaptation period. This was his first job as a head coach, after all.
Yet, in Saka and Smith Rowe, he found a set of new heroes who would carry the opening phase of his project at the Emirates Stadium.
While the latter may have moved on, hampered by injuries before joining Fulham, Saka has gone to new heights.
He’s now one of the best wingers in the world, and certainly one of the most creative. No player created more goalscoring opportunities per 90 minutes in the division than Saka last season.
So, when he picked up an injury in the win over Leeds last month, panic set in. Just how would Arsenal cope?
Well, courtesy of the controversial £55m summer signing, Noni Madueke, they have found a player capable of emulating Saka’s best qualities.
Against Liverpool, the former Chelsea man looked like Arsenal’s most vibrant forward and the same could be said for his display against Forest this weekend.
Madueke may not have scored or assisted, but having found the net on England duty last week, he came into this encounter full of confidence. It certainly showed.
The 23-year-old was utterly relentless down the right flank, embarrassing Morato every time he was faced with a one-on-one situation.
Madueke attempted a whopping eight dribbles during the game, completing five, and showed his ability to create too. Like Saka, the England international was a constant livewire, beating his man for fun and also creating goalscoring chances, providing five key passes during the game.
For several seasons now, Arteta has been crying out for someone capable of producing genuine quality as backup to Saka and they have now found that man.
He’s electric and looks set to explode having traded the blue side of London for the red side.
Madueke vs Forest
Minutes played
78
Shots
0
Successful dribbles
5/8
Touches
65
Accurate passes
22/31
Key passes
5
Accurate crosses
4
Duels won
10
Tackles
3
Stats via Sofascore.
While Madueke didn’t leave the game with a goal or assist, Eberechi Eze did on his first start for the club.
Given the nod over Gabriel Martinelli, the £60m summer arrival repaid his manager’s faith with a cracking display down the left flank. Eze skipped past players regularly and like Madueke, was a constant threat.
In Eze and Madueke, they have two players who look as though they could be Arsenal’s new Saka and Smith Rowe. They were certainly as fun as the club’s Hale End poster boys.
It was the former Palace man who supplied Gyokeres with his strike. Eze burst in behind and got on the end of a brilliant lofted ball from Riccardo Calafiori.
Decisive with his actions, the 27-year-old didn’t need to bring the ball down. Instead, he played a first-time ball across the box for Gyokeres to fire home from close range.
Once upon a time it was Saka and Smith Rowe running the show in attack. Saka will still do that for a while to come, but Eze and Madueke have proven that there is life elsewhere, that Arsenal now have the depth required to really push for major honours in 2025/26.