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Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (right) celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game against Nottingham Forest, August 12, 2023
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Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove
ARSENAL beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 to kick-off their Premier League season with victory, in a match made notable by chaos outside the turnstiles prior to kick-off, following the club’s implementation of an unpopular new e-ticketing system.
First half goals from Eddie Nketiah and a stunning long-range strike from Bukayo Saka, were enough to seal victory on the opening weekend of the season, despite a late consolation from the visitors’ Taiwo Awoniyi.
Yet, it was the sight of more than 30,000 supporters massed outside the ground, due to “issues with the ticketing system,” that caused the turnstiles to shut before the match — forcing the authorities to delay the start by half an hour.
In the shadow of Heathrow and glow of Thorpe Park, a band of Arsenal loyalists have built something lasting — a grassroots club with old-school values, writes LAYTH YOUSIF
A point apiece at the Emirates with both Arsenal and Palace looking distracted by forthcoming semi-finals
