Owen Hargreaves says will be ‘a problem’ in the again this season as they kick-started their 2023-24 campaign with a 2-1 victory over .
Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka scored first-half goals as the Gunners made a rapid start to the new season after their opening fixture was delayed by 30 minutes due to issues with the ticketing system at the Emirates Stadium.
Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi gave the visitors hope with a late goal but Arsenal, who finished second last season, held on to .
Ex-England midfielder Hargreaves said Arsenal were ‘brilliant’ in the first-half and quickly proved they will be a ‘problem’ for their Premier League rivals this season.
Arsenal came close to winning their first league title since 2004 last term and will hope to go one better in 2023-24 after signing Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber this summer.
‘It was a brilliant first-half performance,’ Hargreaves said on Premier League Productions. ‘We had to wait a little bit with the delay but Arsenal were fabulous in that first 45 minutes.
‘All the new signings impressed and Gabriel Martinelli stole the show for me. Arsenal look like they’re going to be a problem this season.
‘The first goal was just individual brilliance from Martinelli. We know Nketiah is a good finisher but that goal was all about Martinelli.’
Mikel Arteta was pleased with his team’s start against Nottingham Forest but bemoaned a loss of concentration that gave Steve Cooper’s side late hope.
‘It’s always difficult to win the first game of the season,’ he said. ‘We deserved to be in front but we didn’t kill the game.
‘And 2-0 in the Premier League is a dangerous scoreline and we had a lack of concentration, conceded a goal, and so it is game on.
‘You cannot give teams anything and we gave them hope. Then the feeling is we want the game to end and take the three points.’
Nketiah echoed his manager’s sentiment and insisted he was delighted to contribute to a victory after being named on Arsenal’s bench for last weekend’s Community Shield final win over Manchester City.
‘We had a really good start but they crept back in it – they made some changes which helped. It was a nervy finish but we deserved the three points,’ the young striker said.
‘It was a great bit of skill by Martinelli to set me up and I was happy with the strike and we know Saka has that kind of quality – we are really happy to have him in our team.
‘Everyone wants to play and everyone needs to be ready to play – so it’s a good start for me and the team. You never know when you will get an opportunity but I’m pleased with my contribution.
‘I grew up a supporter of the club – this is my home – so it’s amazing to hear the fans singing my name at the end.’
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