Arteta Delighted with Impact of Substitutes as Gunners Return to Winning Ways
Arsenal bounced back to winning ways with a dominant 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on Saturday, and manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his team’s performance, particularly the impact of the substitutes. The Gunners' win ended a tough winless run, and Arteta expressed his delight with the energy and contributions from all involved.
Speaking to Match of the Day after the game, Arteta highlighted the strong start his team made, saying: "I think we started really well. The sense I was getting in the last 48 hours after the international break, the boys coming together, and they were all at it. It was good to see the impact of the substitutes."
The substitutions proved pivotal, with Thomas Partey adding a brilliant long-range strike to double the lead, Ethan Nwaneri scoring a late goal to seal the win, and Raheem Sterling providing the assist for the third goal. Arteta emphasised the importance of every player in the squad, noting: "Everyone has to feel important. It was a good afternoon."
One of the standout performances of the match came from Martin Ødegaard, whose influence on the game was unmistakable. Arteta was quick to credit his captain, saying: "It's not a coincidence. The team flows in a different way when he is playing."
However, it was the emergence of 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri that added an extra layer of excitement to the victory. Nwaneri, who became the second youngest goalscorer in Premier League history with his late strike, earned special mention from his manager.
"He is brave. You see the reaction of the fans and they were singing 'he's one of our own'. I think we have to put brick by brick and make sure the cement doesn't get dry. Hopefully, we can build a beautiful thing with him."
With a much-needed win secured, Arteta’s focus will now be on building momentum and closing the gap at the top of the Premier League. As Arsenal’s performance suggested, with key players returning to form and a wealth of young talent emerging, the future looks bright for the Gunners.
How important do you think Nwaneri’s goal is for his future at the club?
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