More questions for Unai Emery after that result…

Morning all.

With our domestic season being very up and down, it could have been tempting for Unai Emery to field a strong side last night just to get the job done and with it, get a bit more confidence into a group of first team players who seem able to play a half decent game for 45 minutes.

I hoped he wouldn’t and he didn’t. Watching on a stream isn’t brilliant I know but for once, it was better than not watching.

Starting XI: Martinez, Chambers, Holding, Mustafi, Tierney, Torreira, Willock, Nelson, Ozil, Smith Rowe, Martinelli

Subs: Macey, Bellerin, Bola, Burton, Ceballos, Saka, Balogun

A very young squad with a few wiser heads thrown in, in the shape of Mustafi and Ozil. The rest I believe are under 25 years old, nine under 21.

Notts Forest have one of the tightest defences in the Championship having conceded the third least goals so far this season and it took a speedy attack to score our first. Nelson, Chambers and then a strong header from Martinelli to finish with. A great moment for our summer signing who was making his first start for Arsenal.

Emile Smith Rowe, in his attempt to double our lead suffered what looked like a nasty injury or concussion when he and a Forest defender clashed heads as both went for the ball. Smith Rowe was stretchered off as his rotten run of injuries continue. Hopefully he’ll be ok.

Our second goal came from another header, this time from Rob Holding who was not only playing in his first competitive game of the season but his first for nearly a year. The look on his face after doubling our lead said it all. He was thrilled, as were his teammates. Joe Willock scored our third, the player setting up his opportunity was Hector Bellerin who by now had come off the bench to make his long awaited return from injury. Reiss Nelson made it 4-0 before Martinelli finished it off with his second of the night.

I know it’s tempting to say ‘it was only Notts Forest’ but I think to do so would be unfair. As said, I watched on a stream but regardless, what I saw I enjoyed. Our young team was full of energy and passing the ball around well. Kieran Tierney is quick, very quick and his crossing was excellent. Chambers too on the right. The return of Bellerin, Holding and Tierney himself is something I know many of us have been waiting for, well that time is here. Whether all three will be in the squad for our trip to Old Trafford I don’t know and I guess that depends on how they feel this morning and over the next few days.

Martinelli is good, very good. He’s quick, strong and more than good enough to be in the first team in my opinion. Whoever spotted him and brought him to Arsenal needs a pat on the back. I think he’s going to be an excellent and exciting player for us.

The focus will no doubt be on the return of our defensive trio and our Brazilian striker but let’s not forget the likes of Mustafi, Torreira and Ozil who although seem to be out of favour with Unai Emery, played their part in this game and played it well. I especially liked the pass Mustafi played to Bellerin before the latter turned provider for Willock and the cross from Chambers, who’d moved left to make way for Bellerin, for our fourth. Our fifth was a peach. Brazilian at its best. Ok, it was very very good.

The rest of the players deserve credit too because it’s a team game and I don’t know if it was my imagination, the stream buffering or something else, but I thought we actually played like a team too. A team which kept another clean sheet as it did in Germany.

Finally, well done to Unai Emery for believing in his younger players and playing them despite the pressure he must be under. Bar the injury to Smith Rowe, it was a perfect night for him but in my opinion, he needs to get over whatever his issue is with Torreira if there is one because he’s a far better player than Xhaka. Question marks must be running through his mind about Mustafi too. Is he playing better right now than Luiz or Sokratis? Does he start with Martinelli at Old Trafford? Should he rip that captains armband off of Xhaka’s arm and hand it to Rob Holding?  What about Chambers too, has he done enough to warrant  more playing time?

Many questions I know and only Emery has the answers but compared to our league performances, last nights match was a breath of fresh air. Players were smiling, working hard and clearly enjoying what they were doing. Not much pulling of shirts, cynical fouling or anything like it. Or if there was, I didn’t see it. Interestingly, Willock I think it was, made a cracking tackle very similar to AMN one at the weekend. Ball won first, then a bit of the player as his momentum carried him through the challenge. The referee awarded Forest a free kick which I didn’t think was justified, but no yellow card was produced.

Anyway, I’ve rabbited on for far too long.

Here’s some highlights if you missed the game. Watch out for Mustafi’s audacious flick. I so wish it’d gone in.

Catch up in the comments guys..