Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson came off the bench to score twice as the Gunners defeated Nottingham Forest 5-0 on Sunday. The Englishman was brought on in the first half after Bukayo Saka was forced to be withdrawn due to injury, but made a statement appearance with two goals and an assist in a dominant win.
The result kept Arsenal top of the Premier League table, two points clear of Manchester City, and fans of Mikel Arteta’s side will be starting to believe they can challenge the current champions for the title. After the game, Nelson made a clear statement that the players are thinking about the prospect of winning the title too.
"It was amazing you know, we had a bit of a slow start after the goal but everyone got into the game and it was great to play in,” Nelson told Sky Sports. "Couldn’t have gone much better than that for me after coming on.
"Delighted with the goals and the assist. I have been training for my chance and I got it and tried my best to take it. We are just trying to do well for the gaffer and the team. We're top now and it's nice, hopefully we can go all the way.”
Reiss Nelson made Arsenal's title ambitions clear after victory over Nottingham Forest. (Image: Sky Sports)
Saka attempted to carry on after picking up an injury following a challenge from Renan Lodi, but went down again after receiving treatment in a scare for both Arsenal and England. "Of course, it is a huge shame for Arsenal and the nation and we will go and check now and see how he is,” Nelson added. “He’s a great boy and it’s great to have him in the team.”
Arteta played down fears that Saka could miss the World Cup, though he has been shown that he has options in the squad to replace the England star in Nelson, who could be competing against Eddie Nketiah and Marquinhos if Saka is ruled out of the final few games before the winter tournament as Emile Smith Rowe is also sidelined through injury.
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Mari, on loan at Italian side Monza from the Gunners, was stabbed in Italy in an attack in a shopping centre on Thursday in which one person was killed, though the defender has since been discharged from hospital.
"We found out after the game,” Nelson explained. “It was really bad and unfortunate and some of the lads wished him well on the phone. He is a great guy and we wish him well in his recovery."