Forgotten Arsenal star, 27, returns to squad for Sporting clash 477 DAYS after last appearance

By Jordan Davies, Senior Sports Journalist and Football Reporter

ARSENAL romped to a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest – with some standout performers shining.

Here, SunSport’s Jordan Davies rates each player…

David Raya – 7
Very little to do. Collected a few crosses well under pressure and was alert and speedy with his distribution to get Arsenal moving.

Jurrien Timber – 7
Had the ball in the net and unlucky not to keep it that way as VAR intervened – eventually – to give offside on Mikel Merino in the build-up. A solid display.

William Saliba – 8

Had a real battle on his hand against another giant of a man in Taiwo Awoniyi, not that it bothered him too much. As always, he was up to the task without ever losing his cool.

Gabriel Magalhaes – 7
With Forest’s target man focused on Saliba, this was a fairly comfortable afternoon for Gabriel, who didn’t even have any decent set-pieces to attack.

Riccardo Calafiori – 7
Was a bit vulnerable on the counter in the early stages, perhaps showing his fitness levels are not there just yet after a lengthy spell out with injury.

However, he regained his composure and was a rock defending crosses and set-pieces.

Jorginho – 6
A rare start and did his best to solidify things in midfield, but his needless yellow ultimately saw him subbed at half-time with Arteta not willing to take the risk.

Martin Odegaard – 9
My word, have Arsenal missed this man. Back in the team and back in the groove, dictating the tempo and providing that creative spark with fluidity and finesse.

By the end, Forest’s players looked like they had been beaten to submission.

Mikel Merino – 7
With Jorginho sitting deeper, the Spaniard had the freedom to play the ‘Rice role’, roaming forward at will, and provided a real attacking intent, driving into the box.

Bukayo Saka – 9

Showed off his samba hips with some silky dancing between tackles in the box before thumping a stunning effort into the top corner.

Forest left-back Alex Moreno had a torrid afternoon, especially after he let Saka cut inside again after the break to tee up Partey’s strike from distance.

Gabriel Jesus – 6
Still looking for just a third goal this calendar year. Gave his all and had a curling effort go narrowly wide in the first half, but it just isn’t happening for the Brazilian at the moment.

A real chance missed to stake a claim in this starting XI.

Leandro Trossard – 7
Should have put Arsenal ahead inside the first two minutes but scuffed his close-range effort and saw another well saved by Matz Sels before the break.

Despite hobbling off for Belgium in mid-week, he looked as sharp as ever.

SUBS
THOMAS PARTEY (JORGINHO, 45) – 8

Was only on the pitch seven minutes before curling a beauty into the far corner – an inspired substitution.

OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO (CALAFIORI, 67) – 6
Did what was needed. Positioned himself for inverted passing lanes to get Arsenal out the back with Forest piling pressure on with time ticking away.

ETHAN NWANERI (ODEGAARD, 82) – 8

More minutes for this impressive academy talent and already has a trademark finish of curling into the far corner with his left foot. He almost pulled this off less than two minutes into coming on.

Then, soon after, he slots in from Sterling’s cut-back for his first Prem goal. Memorable.

RAHEEM STERLING (SAKA, 82) – 7
Really needed to make a difference off the bench to get his campaign up and running, and he did, providing the assist for Nwaneri’s historic goal.

JAKUB KIWIOR (TIMBER, 87) – N/A