Reiss Nelson scored twice after replacing the injured Bukayo Saka as Arsenal thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-0 to move back above Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.
Nelson hadn’t made a Premier League appearance since August of last year and hadn’t scored in the competition since July 2020 when he came on for Saka in the first half, but he seized his chance with two close-range goals in three minutes soon after the break.
Forward Gabriel Martinelli headed in Bukayo Saka’s cross in the opening minutes to open the scoring, with Nelson adding two goals just three minutes apart of each other in the second half.
Thomas Partey made it four with a sensational long-range strike curled into the top right corner before Martin Ødegaard’s powerful strike in the 78th minute sealed the match for the Gunners.
England international Saka was forced off injured in the first half after the midfielder went down after a challenge and tried to continue but came off after 27 minutes.
The injury to Saka will be a significant concern for manager Mikel Arteta and his England counterpart Gareth Southgate three weeks ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
With the victory, Arsenal returned to the top spot in the table with 31 points, with Manchester City two points behind them, while Forest remains bottom on nine points.
Arsenal’s next Premier League fixture is a trip across London to Chelsea next Sunday, while Forest host Brentford the day before
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