Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest: 3 talking points | Carabao Cup 2019/20

Arsenal kicked off their Carabao Cup campaign emphatically by hitting the back of the net 5 times. Unai Emery decided to make wholesale changes to the starting XI, as he handed starts to the likes of Reiss Nelson, Mesut Ozil, Kieran Tierney, Gabriel Martinelli, and Rob Holding.

It was a somewhat uneventful first half, however, Arsenal managed to break the deadlock after a beautiful flowing move. Reiss Nelson picked up Calum Chambers on the right with a crossfield pass, the Englishman volleyed the ball into the box, and Martinelli headed the ball home for the lead.

The Gunners continued prodding the Forest defence after the break, and in the 71st minute their persistence paid off as the returning Holding rose to head the ball past the Forest keeper from a Nelson corner kick.

A few minutes later, Hector Bellerin found Willock in the box with a cutback, and the youngster finished from close range. In the 84th minute, Arsenal got another via Nelson, and in the dying embers of the game, Martinelli completed his brace with a long-range stunner.

In this article, we discuss some talking points from the game.

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#3 Dominant performance from Arsenal

Unbridled joy

Unai Emery decided to heavily rotate his squad, giving starting berths to the likes of Rob Holding, Mesut Ozil, and Gabriel Martinelli. Despite these important changes, the Gunners had a stranglehold on proceedings.

The Reds were largely toothless in the contest with a total of 5 shots and 1 on target. That's in stark contrast to the Gunners' 24 shots.

The possession statistics also told a grim tale for Forest, as Arsenal's fledgelings, returnees, and fringe players dominated play in that regard. The Gunners had a firm 68 per cent of the possession, with the Reds only managing to hold onto the ball for 32 per cent of the game.

The tale is aptly told by the scoreline, as the Gunners deservedly put 5 goals past Sabri Lamouchi's men.

#2 Arsenal players return from injury and shine

Arsenal's Hector Bellerin returns from injury to impress

The Carabao Cup allowed Unai Emery to give much-needed game time to a couple of previously injured players. Kieran Tierney's start to life in London had been delayed by an injury he picked up in Scotland and he was handed his debut in this one. Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding also made their bows after injury absences.

Tierney had an impressive debut, and the standing ovation he got when subbed off for Bellerin was much deserved. Bellerin got his most notable contribution seconds after coming on, as his cut-back into the box was finished by Joe Willock for the third Arsenal goal.

Earlier on, Holding marked his return by scoring the decisive second goal, putting the game firmly beyond the reach of The Reds. He rose above the Forest rearguard to send the ball beyond Arijanet Muric.

#1 Gabriel Martinelli shines

Gabriel Martinelli - Wonderful performance

As far as full debuts go, the 18-year old's bow was impressive. The stands were abuzz with the prospect of seeing Rob Holding strut his stuff once again, as well as seeing Kieran Tierney finally make his bow in the Arsenal colours.

However, Gabriel Martinelli somewhat stole their thunder. The 18-year-old was very lively from the first blast of the whistle, and he won a freekick as early as the 10th minute. His most telling contribution was the brace he scored either side of a 5-0 emphatic scoreline.

His first goal was a header off a beautiful attacking manoeuvre, with Calum Chambers' volley into the box finding the Brazilian youngster.

Arsenal's 5th goal and Martinelli's second was a total beauty, as the Brazilian curled home a shot from long range, putting the final stamp on a dreadful night for the visiting Nottingham Forest.