Kevin Whitcher
Blimey, time flies. I had no idea that the last time Arsenal played Forest was in 1999. 17 years ago. Anyway, enough nostalgia, in 2016, the club returned to the City Ground with the same manager as all those years ago and a put in a performance that would not have been out of place before the turn of the Millennium.
There may have been eleven changes from the previous weekend’s win at Hull, but the gulf in class between the two sides was apparent. Interestingly, David Ospina was not given a run out so that Damien Martinez could have a match. Outfield, as many of the second string and a few youngsters got some first team game time under their belts, two former Gunners lined up for the opposition. Nicklas Bendtner has, perhaps, found his true level in the Championship. I think it’s a fair bet to say he could probably retire on what he has made from his years at Arsenal, but it is interesting to see him settle for what must be a fraction of the wages he has been paid over the few years just to be able to play football again. Henri Lansbury never really got a chance under Wenger, deemed not good enough. Armand Traore was expected to play but was presumably rested. On the Arsenal side, Mathieu Debuchy was not named in the squad, presumably because he is not fully recovered from injury.
Forest started well, and had a glorious chance to take the lead early on, as the Gunners back line construed to lose the ball playing passes across their own area. It’s a dangerous tactic and one they need to cut out when the opposition are present in any kind of number. Fortunately, Kasami missed an easy chance. Nicklas Bendnter also fired wide from the angle, and at the other end Chuba Akpom spurned a good chance, shooting straight at the Forest keeper.
No matter, Grant Xhaka repeated his long range effort from his substitute appearance on Saturday and scored a peach of a goal at the midpoint of the first half. The team created more chances before the interval, but failed to convert. They were establishing their dominance more as the game went on.
This was confirmed in the second half. The visitors dominated and Forest’s forays forward had little impact. Just before the hour, Arsenal increased their lead as Perez fed Akpom who was either muscled off the ball or pushed off it depending on your viewpoint. I’ve seen plenty of those not given and not so many result in spot kicks. But there is no question the Arsenal forward was shoved to the floor. Perez, with not much of a run up, took a powerful penalty even though the keeper guessed right. A word on the youngsters that played ast night. Akpom saw plenty of involvement and worked well with Perez. Jeff Reine-Adelaide looked tidy and a typical Arsenal attacking midfielder. Lots of quick link up passing and confidence on the ball. At times, he drifted out of the game, but when he was involved looked the part, certainly against this standard of opposition. Ashley Maitland-Niles supported well going forward but had a limited amount of work to do defensively. But Hector Bellerin is hardly under threat there. Damien Martinez handled everything that came his way, but there wasn’t that much of it. After 67 minutes there was a ‘Super Nicklas Bendtner’ chant from the travelling support. It was that comfortable.
On 70 minutes, Perez scored a second, demonstrating perseverance, physicality, pace and skill. He looked a very capable forward last night, although better opposition will tell us more. Subs were made, Bendtner had a good reception from the Arsenal end when he was taken off for Forest, and the game wound down. But not before the Ox combined well with Perez and put the icing on the cake with a fourth goal in injury time.
On this performance, there is an argument for both Xhaka and Perez to start on Saturday against Chelsea. My thought is that a front three of Sanchez, Perez and Iwobi will give the side more than Iwobi, Sanchez and Walcott. As for the midfield, I’d be tempted, for Chelsea, to play both Coquelin and Xhaka to protect the back four more than a Coquelin and Cazorla axis. However, my suspicion is that we’ll see the same eleven that started against Hull, injuries permitting.
Gabriel returned to first team action and demonstrated with Forest’s early chance that he still has mistakes in his game. Mustafi looks a surer bet at this time. Overall, an excellent display that demonstrated the gulf in class. Forest only made three changes from their weekend game, and two of those were former Arsenal players coming in with the hope that ‘the immutable law of the ex’ would come into play.
Into the last 16 of a tournament that Arsène has never won, although we have seen a fair number of semi-finals and two finals in his 20 stabs at it so far. And by hook or by crook, only one defeat so far this season. Let’s hope we can say the same after Saturday which will be a real test for the 2016/17 Arsenal.
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