Ange's Forest felled as Arsenal runs riot
Martin Zubimendi scored his first Premier League goals as Ange Postecoglou's first game in charge of Nottingham Forest resulted in a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.
Having won the UEFA Europa League with Arsenal's arch-rival Tottenham Hotspur last season, Postecoglou returned to the dugout after Forest parted ways with Nuno Espirito Santo earlier this week.
But his new team was distinctly second-best at Emirates Stadium as Arsenal bounced back from a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break.
Zubimendi thumped a wonderful volley past Matz Sels in the 32nd minute to put Arsenal ahead, after Noni Madueke's corner was only half-cleared by Chris Wood.
Two more new signings combined to double Arsenal's advantage 47 seconds into the second half, with Eberechi Eze beating the offside trap to square for a Viktor Gyokeres tap-in.
Gyokeres also rattled the near post with a ferocious effort, while the woodwork was struck at the other end when Wood diverted Dan Ndoye's cross towards goal with his chest, forcing David Raya to tip the ball against the crossbar.
But Arsenal made the points safe with 11 minutes remaining, as Zubimendi rose to nod home after an inviting cross from substitute Leandro Trossard.
The only negative for Mikel Arteta's side was the sight of captain Martin Odegaard limping off in the 18th minute, having fallen awkwardly following a challenge from Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Gunners moved top of the table ahead of the Premier League's other games, with nine points from four matches, while Forest, which lost centre-back Murillo to injury, is five points back.
Postecoglou said his new charges played creditably after the upheaval of Nuno's sudden departure, something he thought Forest "can put to bed and now start looking ahead".
"It's no secret, it's been a very disruptive week for the players," the Australian said.
"Seven days ago, their world was totally different from what it is today, and you've got to understand that – I certainly do.
"I can't fault the players' endeavour and effort. I thought we hung in there. We never really had control of the game at any point but we still, I thought, worked really hard in the first half.
"It was kind of small seeds towards the end of the first half of us maybe being able to sort of cause them some problems, but the second goal straight after halftime killed the game."
Postecoglou said he had six games in all competitions before next month's international break to "start bedding down some of our principles in terms of how we want to play".
But he was emphatic that he wanted to see changes in Forest's play as soon as its midweek Carabao Cup game against Swansea City.
Asked if it would take weeks or months for Forest to play in his image, Postecoglou replied: "No, mate, it won't be months, it won't be weeks, it'll be Wednesday.
"I can't afford to waste time. This is not a project. This football club [had] a strong season last year, needs to be stronger this year.
"My job is to get us to where I want us as quickly as possible. So by Wednesday night we start seeing some real principles being embedded.
"It won't take long and I'm not going to let it take long."
