LONDON — On Saturday, Ange Postecoglou’s first game as Nottingham Forest manager was not easy. His new team lost 3-0 against a strong Arsenal team. Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres, two of Arsenal’s big summer buys, virtually secured the match for Postecoglou, who was back in the Premier League after being hired on Tuesday.
In the 32nd minute, Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi scored the first goal of the game with a volley from the edge of the area that went past the Forest goalkeeper. This was Zubimendi’s first game at home. Arsenal scored again just 45 seconds into the second half. Eberechi Eze, another new addition, sent a lovely cross to Viktor Gyokeres, who easily tapped it in.
In the 79th minute, Zubimendi scored his second goal and ended a bad day for Forest by heading in a cross from Leandro Trossard to make it 3-0. This was Zubimendi’s first professional brace.
Postecoglou, who had only been hired four days earlier to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, is now facing a harsh reality. Nuno was fired after only three Premier League games, even though he led Forest to a great 2024–25 season in which they finished 7th and qualified for Europe.
Tottenham suddenly fired Postecoglou in June, even though he had led them to the Europa League title and a spot in the Champions League. But in the end, he was fired since his team finished 17th in the league, only one spot above the relegation zone.
Arsenal’s success at the Emirates keeps up their great start to the season; they have won three of their first four Premier League games. The Gunners have only lost to Liverpool, who are also in the running for the title. The North London club’s new players have played well, which bodes well for the season ahead.