Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring the opening goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - Arsenal moved back to the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
But an injury to Bukayo Saka will be a concern to England head coach Gareth Southgate after the forward was forced off in the 27th minute.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta knew victory would see his team overtake Manchester City at the top of the table and the result never looked in doubt from as early as the fifth minute when Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring.
Reiss Nelson struck two goals in three minutes at the start of the second half, while Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard completed the rout.
Arsenal responded impressively after drawing with Southampton last weekend and losing to PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday.
City's 1-0 win against Leicester on Saturday saw the reigning champion move a point clear at the top. But Arsenal's outstanding start to the campaign continued with its 10th win from 12 games.
Meanwhile, the game was a dose of reality for Forest, which had beaten Liverpool last week.
It started with Martinelli putting Arsenal ahead when stooping to head in a Saka cross.
Saka hobbled off shortly before the half-hour mark after trying to run off an earlier knock.
He was replaced by Nelson, who had a decisive impact, taking centre-stage on his first Premier League appearance since the opening-day defeat at Brentford last season.
He doubled the lead with a finish high into Dean Henderson's net in the 49th-minute after the England goalkeeper had done well to keep out Nelson's initial effort.
The points were secured just three minutes later. Nelson scored again as he turned home Gabriel Jesus' cross before laying a pass into the path of Partey, who finished superbly from outside the box to make it four in the 57th-minute.
Odegaard latched onto a Jesus pass to score the fifth after 78 minutes.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup
___
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
Arsenal's Reiss Nelson, (24), scores his sides second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Reiss Nelson, (24), shoots and scores his sides second goal of the game past Nottingham Forest's goalkeeper Dean Henderson during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Reiss Nelson (24) celebrates scoring his sides second goal with teammates during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Reiss Nelson, right celebrates with his teammates after scoring his sides third goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Thomas Partey, second right, watches as his shot passes Nottingham Forest's goalkeeper Dean Henderson as he scores his sides 4th goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Thomas Partey, left celebrates with Arsenal's Granit Xhaka after scoring his sides 4th goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Gabriel clears the ball with an overhead kick during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Nottingham Forest's head coach Steve Cooper looks on from the side lines during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard celebrates after scoring his sides 5th goal during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, second left, celebrates after scoring his sides 5th goal during the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta applauds the fans after the end of the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Arsenal won the game 5-0. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Nottingham Forest's head coach Steve Cooper walks onto the pitch after the end of the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Arsenal won the game 5-0. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard applauds the fans after the end of the English Premier League soccer match between, Arsenal and Nottingham Forrest at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Arsenal won the match 5-0. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
The Associated Press