'Quality players': Nuno Espirito Santo names the three Arsenal players who really 'caused problems' today

Today at 03:15 PM

Arsenal have returned to winning ways against a Nottingham Forest side whose form has taken a downturn of late.

Both the Gunners and the Reds went into Saturday’s Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium hoping to get back to winning ways.

Arsenal had not won in the league since early October, while Forest have in amazing form for much of the season but had lost to Newcastle last time out.

In the end, it proved a routine victory for the Gunners, who ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Ethan Nwaneri.

Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo spoke to reporters after the game and singled three Arsenal players out for praise, saying they caused problems.

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Arsenal trio Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka praised by Nottingham Forest boss

Nuno, speaking to football.london, started by saying Martin Odegaard is one of those players who makes the game “harder” when he’s involved.

The Forest manager also said Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka “created problems” for the City Ground side.

Nuno was asked how difficult Arsenal made the game, to which he replied: “A lot. Quality players when they are involved in the game it becomes harder.

“Ode is one of them. Trossard created problems and Saka created problems. You cannot give time to players to decide so freely.”

BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin described Odegaard’s assist for Saka as “phenomenal” and said both were “international class players”.

Odegaard, Trossard and Saka ratings

Football.london gave Odegaard an 8 out of 10 for his efforts on the day, saying he “was simply electric in the first half.

They continued: “Arsenal looked back close to their rampant best as he combined with everyone on the team.

“His assist for Saka’s goal was smart and a lovely way to cap off his return to the Emirates Stadium. Has he arrived just in time to save the Gunners in the title race?”

Likewise, Saka got an 8 out of 10 as they wrote: “Looked really hungry down the right hand side.

“His goal was the epitome of this as he took the shot on with superb determination. Able to lay on a second for Partey too. A good afternoon’s work.

Trossard, meanwhile, got a 6 out of 10 as they wrote: “As most of the Arsenal attack went down the right it was a quieter day for Trossard, but he still got involved where he could.

“Unlucky not to score with a drive from the edge of the box.”