Arsenal return to the summit after Forest rout

Gabriel Martinelli stoops to head past Dean Henderson on Sunday to hand Arsenal the lead against Nottingham Forest. (The game ended 5-0)

Arsenal ended all talks of a decline with a sensational 5-0 destruction of Nottingham Forest on Sunday to move back to the top of the premier league table.

As they’ve been known to do, the Gunners raced into an early lead when Bukayo Saka floated one into the Forest box and Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli stooped to head past goalkeeper Dean Henderson for a deserved opener.

The cloud of doubt set in at the Emirates with Arsenal missing chances and the visitors growing into the game but the whole of England would have their hearts in their mouths after watching Saka limp off with what looked like an ankle problem.

Reis Nelson came in for the 3Lions winger and didn’t add much value in the first half, prompting dissents among the crowd but the young winger had responses for them in his locker. The first half ended with Arsenal on top by a slim margin but the second half proved a different ball game.

Like they did in the first half, Arsenal doubled their lead early in the second half. Nelson got on the end of a Gabriel Jesus pass and got past Henderson on the second attempt. Minutes later, Nelson received from Jesus again and the same result, two became three.

Thomas Partey got in on the act with a smart long-range finish as he did against Tottenham in the derby to make it four. Jesus had the chance to score but fluffed it on three occasions before setting up Martin Odegaard for the fifth of the day.

The big win restored Arsenal to the summit and they will now prepare for their final Europa League group game on Thursday at the Emirates before strolling across town to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.