Arsenal v Nottingham Forest player ratings: Saka 8, Nketiah 7; Danilo 5, Awoniyi 7

Gunners survive nervy finish to win 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in Premier League opener

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  ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 7: Had been almost a total spectator for most of game until Forest’s late goal which he had no chance with but turned the Emirates into a nervy place for last season’s Premier League runners-up. Getty

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  Thomas Partey 7: Started on right of back four and out of his central-midfield role comfort zone but Ghanaian played well for Gunners. Solid day’s work. AFP

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  Ben White 7: Pinged some beautiful balls out from back and coped comfortably with Johnson, bar once early in the game when the striker found himself through on goal only to miss target. AP

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  William Saliba 8: A critical miss at the end of last season due to injury and a welcome return to the team for cultured French defender. In right place to cut out through ball to Johnson in rare first-half Forest attack. Remained calm presence in edgy last 10 minutes from Gunners. Reuters

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  Jurrien Timber 7: Arrival from Ajax had slotted in effortlessly at left-back. Came off worse from challenge on Johnson that earned him booking and limped off at half-time. Pulled up suddenly just after break and had to be helped off pitch. A worry for Arsenal. Getty

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  Declan Rice 7: Quietly efficient game from England midfielder. Saw a few shots on goal saved by Turner, the closest of which was a low strike that took a deflection and saw former teammate get down well to palm away. Getty

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  Martin Odegaard 8: Gunners captain was immaculate with his passing and helped Arsenal completely dominate possession. Started the new campaign just like he played for most of the last, controlling the game from middle of park. AP

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  Kai Havertz 6: Quiet game from German summer signing from Chelsea, tidy in the pass, had a couple of shots blocked, but little threat on goal, although was playing in deeper role for most of game. Teed-up one late chance for Rice. Reuters

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  Bukayo Saka 8: Glorious curling left-footed finish into top corner after cutting inside from the right to put Arsenal 2-0 up. A threat from start to finish and an excellent game from one of the Premier League's best players last season. Reuters

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  Gabriel Martinelli 6: Barely had kick before producing lovely piece of skill to set-up Neketiah’s opener. Not the relentless attacking threat of last season but still a handful at times. AFP

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  Eddie Nketiah 7: Shot that opened scoring took slight deflection but will have been delighted to have found net after being given starting berth for opening game of season. EPA

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  SUBS: Takehiro Tomiyasu (On for Timber 48’) 7: Shot straight at keeper from outside box a minute after coming on. AFP

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  Leandro Trossard (On for Nketiah 74’) 6: No chance for former Brighton man to make impact. AFP

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  Gabriel (On for Martinez 87’) N/A. Getty

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  NOTTINGHAM FOREST RATINGS: Matt Turner 7: American keeper up against the side he left only a few days ago and will have been frustrated to be beaten by Nketiah’s deflected strike after 26 minutes. No chance with stunning Saka finish, though, not long after. Getty

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  Willy Boly 7: Some fantastic challenges in both halves, including one timed to perfection to deny Nketiah a second goal, although was beaten far too easily by same player ahead of first goal. Reuters

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  Joe Worrall 7: Not his day for deflections. Desperate attempt to block Nkatiah’s strike only resulted in sending effort past keeper for opening goal. Another deflection, this time on Rice strike, needed Turner to make save. Getty

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  Scott McKenna 7: Scottish defender made some important interceptions in the air and on the deck. Helped keep Martinelli's threat to minimum. Reuters

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  Serge Aurier 6: Formerly of Gunners’ North London rivals Spurs and given the expected hot reception by home fans. Wing back was solid enough defensively but distribution not the greatest going forward. Getty

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  Ryan Yates 6: Fine block on Havertz shot in 25th minute, kept chasing and harrying Arsenal when in possession. Saw shot on turn in box saved in second half but offside had gone up anyway. Getty

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  Orel Mangala 6: Belgian midfielder gives some physical presence in centre of park but generally chasing Arsenal shadows and picked up booking for blatant pull on Odegaard. Reuters

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  Ola Aina 7: Free transfer from Torino up against the livewire Saka and earned the game’s first yellow card for tripping England attacker. Good performance, though, facing a quality opponent. Had one shot deflected wide of Ramsdale’s near post in second half. Reuters

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  Danilo 5: Potential dangerman for Forest but Brazilian couldn’t get foothold in game. Disappointing afternoon and taken off with 20 minutes left. Reuters

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  Morgan Gibbs-White 6: Caught in possession trying to trick his way out of own penalty area that would lead to Saka scoring Arsenal’s second goal. Sent shot way over bar a minute after Awoniyi’s goal. Getty

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  Brennan Johnson 5: Should have opened scoring in 11th minute when through one-on-one with Ramsdale but shot high and wide of target. Proved a costly miss. Getty

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  SUBS: Taiwo Awoniyi (On for Danilo 72’) 7: Forest’s top scorer last season produced classic striker’s finish from close range to drag Forest back into game. Reuters

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  Anthony Elanga (On for Johnson 80’) N/A. Superb cameo for summer signing from Manchester United and produced brilliant pacy run and ball into box to set-up goal for fellow sub Awoniyi. Reuters. Neco Williams (On for Aina 72’) 6: One of Forest substitutes that helped suddenly spark them into life, although the former Liverpool man was less influential than Awonyi and Elanga.

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  Cheikhou Kouyate (On for Mangala 90’) N/A. Chris Wood (On for Worrall 90’) N/A.

Arsenal's Premier League title challenge got off to a winning start on Saturday, but the Gunners were made to sweat in a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.

First-half goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka had the home side cruising at the Emirates. But they were made to suffer a nervy finale after Taiwo Awoniyi came off the bench to pull a goal back for Forest seven minutes from time.

However, three points for Arsenal was soured by an injury suffered by summer signing Jurrien Timber when he pulled up early in the second-half.

“We deserved to be in front but we didn't kill the game,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. “We had a lack of concentration, conceded a goal, and so it is game on.

“You cannot give teams anything and we gave them hope. Then the feeling is we want the game to end and take the three points.”

Arteta, meanwhile, said the way Nketiah trained made him impossible to leave out against Forest. “I'm delighted for him because he is a role model,” Arteta said of the attacker, who was back in the starting XI having missed out on a berth against Manchester City in the Community Shield win last week.

“He was a player who was so disappointed not to play the final in the absence of Gabi [Jesus].

“What he did was he came on the field in the final and changed the game. That's number one. The second one was the way he was training this week was saying 'gaffer, if you're not playing me you are blind'.

“A lot of players come and say 'oh why am I not playing' and you have to try to explain, other players come and say 'these are the reasons why I deserve to play'. This is exactly what Eddie does.”

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