Jump directly to the content
SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM

Nottingham Forest 0 Arsenal 4: Lucas Perez nets first two goals while Nicklas Bendtner has night to forget

Sponsored by

LUCAS PEREZ capped his second start for Arsenal with his first two goals for the club in the 4-0 EFL third round win over Championship Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The £17million addition from Deportivo had been given the nod with Olivier Giroud out injured with a toe problem.

Lucas Perez celebrates his second goal of the club
6
Lucas Perez celebrates his second goal of the clubCredit: Reuters
Lucas Perez notches his second of the game for Arsenal
6
Lucas Perez notches his second of the game for ArsenalCredit: Reuters
Lucas Perez scores his first for the club from the penalty spot
6
Lucas Perez scores his first for the club from the penalty spotCredit: Getty Images

On the 60th minute, Perez stepped up to notch his first from the penalty spot, firing low into the bottom corner with his left foot. The 11 minutes later he added his second, taking the ball around Forest 'keeper Dragan Stojkovic.

Granit Xhaka had fired Arsenal ahead in fine fashion
6
Granit Xhaka had fired Arsenal ahead in fine fashionCredit: Reuters

£30million Granit Xhaka had put the Gunners in front in the 23rd minute with another fine long-range, three days after scoring his first for the club with another rocket.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain added a fourth in injury time.

Related articles

As Arsene Wenger celebrates two decades at Arsenal, here is the story on his 20 years in his players' words
reign man

As Arsene Wenger celebrates two decades at Arsenal, here is the story on his 20 years in his players' words

Arsenal were forced to pay DOUBLE for Andrey Arshavin because of Putin, new book sensationally reveals
Put-in place

Arsenal were forced to pay DOUBLE for Andrey Arshavin because of Putin, new book sensationally reveals

Arsenal face competition from champions Leicester for Las Palmas star Roque Mesa
Solid as a Roque

Arsenal face competition from champions Leicester for Las Palmas star Roque Mesa

Barcelona set to bid £30m for Hector Bellerin as Manchester City also look to land star
What the Hec

Barcelona set to bid £30m for Hector Bellerin as Manchester City also look to land star

Arsenal old boy Nicklas Bendtner reacts at the City Ground
6
 Arsenal old boy Nicklas Bendtner reacts at the City GroundCredit: Reuters

FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

  • Arsene Wenger rotated his entire starting 11 from Saturday’s 4-1 win at Hull, handing Rene-Adelaide, Akpom and Maitland-Niles their top team debuts.
  • All eyes were on Forest’s Nicklas Bendtner at kick-off however and the big Dane’s name was applauded by both sets of fans.  Well, this was HIS derby after all!
  • “Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that.” It didn’t take long for the niceties to end and for Forest fans to give their Premier opponents a history lesson.
    6
  • There was another reminder of Forest’s glorious past after 12 minutes when the City Ground rose to applaud Brian Clough to mark the 12th anniversary of the legendary boss’s death.
  • Forest fans were on their feet again early in the first half after someone chants: “Stand up for Brian Clough.” Lesson learned – the next time I’m covering Forest I’ll bring a periscope!
  • Nicklas Bendtner had vowed to visit the Arsenal dressing at full-time but would be wise to steer clear of Granit Xhaka after clattering the Swiss midfielder to earn the game’s first booking.
  • It didn’t take Xhaka long to exact revenge as he lashed out to give the matchball a real kicking – on it’s way into the back of the Forest net!
  • Fast feet are essential for any top ‘keeper. Forest boss – and former goalie - Phillipe Montanier showed Vladimir Stojkovic how it’s done when he niftily hurdled Rob Holding after the defender slid to catch a wayward ball!
  • Not to be outdone, Arsenal Wenger received a big cheer after the break for a cool one-touch lay-off after the ball had flown towards him on the track.
  • Bizarre moment of the season. An Arsenal fan appeared to play silly burgers after striding into the Arsenal technical area and offering the Frenchman a bite of something from his !
  • The baffled Gunners boss politely refused the offer – clearly the fan was oblivious to Arsene’s policy on tomato ketchup!
  • Forest meanwhile were soon playing CATCH-UP after falling further behind to Lucas’s penalty after Mancienne shoved Akpom in the box!
  • Mancienne should have learned when to drop as he is brushed aside by Lucas, who charges through Forest’s flimsy defence to make it 3-0.

League Cup third-round scores

Bournemouth 2 Preston 3 (AET)
Brighton 1 Reading 2
Everton 0 Norwich 2
Leeds 1 Blackburn 0
Leicester 2 Chelsea 4 (AET)
Newcastle 2 Wolves 0
Derby 0 Liverpool 3


SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Nottingham Forest (4-1-4-1): Stojkovic 6; Pereira 5, Mills 5, Mancienne 5, Lichaj 5; Cohen 5; Osborn 6, Lansbury 6, Kasami 6 (Carayol 68, 6) , Dumitru 6 (Lica 81, 6); Bendtner 5 (Vellios 80. 5).

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Martinez 6; Maitland-Niles 6 (Bielik 87, 6), Holding 6, Gabriel 7, Gibbs 7; Xhaka 7, Elneny 6; Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Rene-Adelaide 6, Akpom (Willock 83, 6); Lucas 8.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: "It was a convincing performance with some young players playing well and Perez scored as well, so overall it was a positive night.

"I was particularly happy with his (Perez)second goal because he not only showed good technique but also great determination to fight for the ball and I also liked the role he played in the goal for Oxlade-Chamberlain."


Watch ALL the goals from the Premier League before anyone else for FREE plus all the latest news, fixtures and results and live match commentary all on the go with the new Sun Football App – 

Topics
YOU MIGHT LIKE
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MORE FOR YOU