Mikel Arteta's bold decision pays off for Arsenal to put pressure on Liverpool
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Arsenal made sure it kept up the early pressure on Liverpool after seeing off Nottingham Forest on Saturday - and Gunners fans will have been breathing a sigh of relief after Mikel Arteta’s big selection call ahead of the game.
Liverpool leads the way in the early stages of the Premier League title race, having picked up what could prove to be a crucial win over Arsenal at Anfield before the international break.
With last season’s runner-up getting the first opportunity to make their mark upon the return to domestic action, the Gunners made no mistake against Forest in the early kick-off to draw level again with the Reds at the top of the table.
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Ange Postecoglou’s first game in charge of the visitors added some level of intrigue to the contest at the Emirates Stadium, although there wasn’t much jeopardy once the action got underway as Arsenal breezed to a win.
Martin Zubimendi - once the subject of transfer interest from Liverpool - opened the scoring in spectacular fashion during the first half, before Viktor Gyokeres made it two just seconds after the break, with Zubimendi wrapping up the three points with a late header.
Arteta will no doubt be delighted with the result, especially after making the bold call to drop Declan Rice from his side for the clash.
Declan Rice was a surprise name on the bench for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest
(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
The England international has been a mainstay of Arsenal’s side since joining from West Ham in 2023, but his manager made the curious decision to name him on the bench against Forest, despite him not carrying an injury.
Arteta cited the growing schedule over the next few weeks, as well as the recent international break, as his reasoning for resting Rice, with the Arsenal boss even deciding against bringing him on when Martin Odegaard was forced off injured inside the opening 20 minutes.
It was a gamble that could have blown up in his face, especially with Bukayo Saka and William Saliba both out injured, but in the end, Arteta was justified in his call, with Rice eventually called upon with just over 20 minutes remaining.
The Gunners’ win leaves them level with Liverpool on nine points ahead the Reds’ game against Burnley on Sunday, with Arteta having increased the pressure on Arne Slot’s side with his comments this week.
"They are the strongest for sure," Arteta said about Liverpool.
"They have recruited the two most decisive players that were in Europe in the market [Isak and Wirtz], and they did really well to do that