Mikel Arteta was delighted with how his Arsenal side played during their 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest but rued a late lapse of concentration that set up a nervy finish. First-half goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka gave The Gunners a comfortable cushion but they conceded a goal in the 82nd minute that gave Steve Cooper's side a glimmer of hope against
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta was delighted with how his Arsenal side played in their 2-1 victory to kickstart their 2023-24 Premier League campaign but bemoaned the lapse in concentration that gave Nottingham Forest a late lifeline to set up a nervy final 10 minutes at the Emirates.
After kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes due to an electronic ticketing issue, The Gunners struggled to break down the well-organised Forest defence before a moment of magic from Gabriel Martinelli set up Eddie Nketiah in the 25th minute.
That appeared to open the floodgates as seven minutes later Bukayo Saka unleashed a screamer from 25 yards that gave Matt Turner no chance in the Forest goal as the hosts went through the gears.
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But Steve Cooper’s side kept their arrears at two and then hit back, launching a rapid counter from an Arsenal corner as Anthony Elanga ran almost the length of the field before teeing up Taiwo Awoniyi in the 82nd minute.
That was as good as it got for the visitors as Arsenal saw the game out, but Arteta was critical that his side allowed their opponents a route back into the game.
“First of all, really happy,” Arteta told TNT Sports. “It’s always difficult to win the first game, it’s always very difficult to win in the Premier League, so we should be very happy, especially the way we played.
“I think we deserved to win the game, we merit more and earlier but we didn’t kill the game and 2-0 in the Premier League is a very dangerous result.
“We have a lack of concentration on the counter after the corner, they score a goal and then it is game on, and they throw a lot of bodies in there.
“We didn’t concede anything, but the feeling was that we want the game to end and earn the three points.”
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