Arsenal began their English Football League campaign with a rounding 4-0 victory over Championship side Nottingham Forest. It's been almost two decades since these two sides in a competitive fixture but the Gunners ran away with three points by completely outclassing their opponents – even though Arsene Wenger put out a squad of reserves on the field.
New signings Lucas Perez and Granit Xhaka began the game and scored with the Spaniard getting a brace on his introduction to the English cup scene. Meanwhile, Forest's new signing – and former Arsenal man – Nicklas Bendtner started the game but failed to assert himself on the pitch as the Gunners' defence ensured he didn't cause any havoc.
Here are five things we learnt from the game:
#5 The Championship wasn't surprising Arsenal and Arsene Wenger again
This time around last year, Arsenal took on Sheffield Wednesday and eventually succumbed to an embarrassing 3-0 loss. Wenger wasn't taking any chances this time around. “I told the players before the game that we went to Sheffield Wednesday and lost 3-0 because we were not ready mentally for the commitment of the Championship,” the Frenchman said afterwards. “Our history helped us tonight to start in a much stronger way.”
While Forest did threaten in the opening minutes of the game, Wenger ensured he had the right kind of midfield to storm through the bad times and eventually get Arsenal on their way. Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka were solid in the middle of the park and kept Arsenal ticking.
Elsewhere, Arsenal's front line kept interchanging and kept the Forest defence busy and eventually scored enough to put the game to bed early on.
#4 Forest's Henri Lansbury showed contempt towards Arsenal
Those who've followed Arsenal for a while now know how close Henri Lansbury was from making it into the first team. He even made a few appearances for the club in the Emirates Cup but was eventually loaned and then sold by Arsene Wenger who thought he didn't have what it takes to cut it at North London.
And last night, Lansbury showed just why. The London-born midfielder fouled the Arsenal midfield and forward line multiple times throughout the game and was only booked late in the second half. It all began with a rather rash tackle on Elneny which looked like a certain yellow card but the ref played on and booked the Englishman for repeatedly bringing down Arsenal players later in the second half.
Lansbury has the pace and the passing range to make it in any midfield in the Championship but judging by how he played Arsenal last night, it looks like he wanted to show the club – and Arsene Wenger – that he wasn't happy not making it with the Gunners in the Premier League . There are other ways, Henri.
#3 Nicklas Bendtner could still prove to be a worthy signing
Nicklas Bendtner was playing against his former club for the first time since being let go in 2014 and the Dane showed glimpses of why Arsene Wenger brought him into the club – nearly 12 years ago – in the first place.
There was a chance in the game when Bendtner gathered the ball, cut back and released a shot from his right foot. The effort almost touched the post as it whizzed past Emi Martinez's goal. His runs off the ball are still deadly but has lost a lot of the pace he had – something Gabriel took massive advantage of throughout the game.
Having joined Forest on a free, Bendtner could yet still prove to be a good signing for Philippe Montanier. He's played for Arsenal – won an FA Cup – and spent a year on loan with Italian powerhouses Juventus meaning he knows what it's like to play for some of the best teams in Europe.
He's also got the build and the best years ahead of him – for a striker at least – meaning he could be the kind of signing who could push Forest to a promotion spot. In time, though. Games are a must.
#2 The Jeff is not too far away
When Arsenal fans saw Jeff Reine-Adelaide's name on the sheet for the start of the game, it came as a surprise but the young Frenchman made the most of the opportunity and shone throughout the game.
In every subtle way, The Jeff – as he's commonly called – is a quintessential Arsenal player. Short passes and runs off the ball to make himself free would best describe his style of play and it did it throughout the game linking up especially well with new signing Lucas Perez.
His eye for a pass is also exceptional and regularly tried playing Chuba Akpom, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lucas Perez through on goal. The Jeff's biggest advantage is that it always looks like he has all the time in the world to pick out a pass. Maybe it's his languid running style or the fact that defenders don't want to try to tackle him often knowing how quick he is off the mark – something Henri Lansbury learned the wrong way.
Either way, The Jeff is nearly ready for the first team. He's got all the right ingredients to take someone like Mesut Ozil's place in the team. He can play centre and has the awareness and the pace to ensure he doesn't get his teammates in a pickle.
#1 Granit Xhaka and Lucas Perez finally getting the English game
While the spotlight was on these two new signings, another one made his EFL Cup debut for the Gunners but at the heart of the Arsenal defence and performed just as excellently but while Rob Holding knows how the English game is having played all his career here, Lucas Perez and Granit Xhaka, though, are finally getting to grips the way the Premier League and its younger siblings work.
The Spaniard was starting only his second game for Arsene Wenger's side and had a decent game rounding off with two goals to his name – one a penalty and one a solo effort that was worthy of genuine praises.
Xhaka, meanwhile, showed us his long-range shooting skills on the weekend against Hull and repeated the same last night – albeit thanks to a deflection this time around. His positioning on the pitch to receive a pass is unmatched and is finally feeling the pace and strength of the English game.
Overall, it was an exceptional night for the new signings; Holding kept a clean sheet, Perez scored a brace, Xhaka scored a screamer and it all came at the right time knowing they'll have to perform at their best when Chelsea come knocking on the weekend.
