Nottingham Forest’s newly appointed manager Ange Postecoglou faced a challenging and disappointing start to his tenure as Arsenal dominated the Emirates Stadium with a 3-0 victory on his managerial debut.
The Australian, who had been appointed earlier in the week to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, struggled to make an impact as his side was overwhelmed by the home team’s attacking prowess and tactical superiority.
Arsenal fans, aware of Postecoglou’s history with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, did not hold back. Chants of “sacked in the morning” echoed throughout the Emirates as supporters taunted the former Spurs boss, highlighting the hostility he would face in his first game back in the capital.
Supporters seized on every opportunity to mock Forest after the Gunners surged ahead. Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring before Viktor Gyökeres doubled the lead, with fans’ chants growing louder and more sarcastic as the game progressed. When Zubimendi headed in his second of the afternoon to make it 3-0, home fans added insult to injury by teasing Forest: “Are you Tottenham in disguise?”
Postecoglou’s return to north London was particularly sour, given that just months earlier he had lifted the Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur before being dismissed in June. His Forest side struggled to handle Arsenal’s intense pressure, leaving the Australian with plenty of questions to answer about tactics and team morale.
Despite missing key players such as William Saliba and Bukayo Saka, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side showcased resilience and depth. Summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Noni Madueke were integrated into the lineup, with Madueke particularly impressing during the first half, further highlighting the squad’s growing versatility.
For Postecoglou, the challenge now is immense. Nottingham Forest face a congested schedule with limited recovery time. Their next assignment sees them travel to Swansea City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, followed by a league trip to Burnley on September 20. The club’s Europa League campaign also begins on September 24 with an away fixture against Real Betis, meaning Postecoglou must quickly adapt and stabilize his squad amidst a demanding sequence of fixtures.
The Forest manager will need to find solutions rapidly to prevent a rocky start from derailing the club’s domestic and European ambitions. Meanwhile, Arsenal supporters continue to revel in their team’s performance, enjoying a decisive win and a public display of dominance over the new Forest boss.