Mad Zubi Gyo goals

Madueke was scintillating on the right wing, but the goalscoring plaudits go to…

Zubi the Destroyer: Arsenal's New Midfield Maestro Announces Himself and Gyokeres, helping himself to one and nearly two

There are goals, and then there are moments. Martin Zubimendi didn't just open his Arsenal account—he detonated one into the north London night that will live long in the memory. A first-time volley from outside the box that had Forest's defence frozen like startled extras in a horror flick. Thirty-two minutes in, the Emirates was already shaking, and the Spanish metronome had just put his name on the marquee.

A Statement Win

The scoreboard read 3–0 by the end, but make no mistake—this wasn't a flattering scoreline, it was the least we deserved. Three wins from four to start the campaign, and this one had that Champions League-eve swagger. Forest hadn't won in N5 since 1989—when shoulder pads were still fashionable—and Ange Postecoglou's arrival didn't alter that bit of trivia. The Australian is now 0-for-5 against us. Long may it continue.

Odegaard's Worry, Zubi's Glory

There was a moment of unease when Odegaard went down, a shoulder knock eerily similar to his last setback against Leeds. But where there's absence, there's opportunity—and Zubimendi seized it with both boots. His thunderous opener was no fluke, and he nearly repeated the trick seconds later with a carbon-copy strike that grazed the bar. Not content with one wondergoal, he stuck around for dessert.

Second-Half Surge

The restart was barely underway before Ebere Eze—on his home debut, no less—picked Forest's pocket and served up Viktor Gyokeres on a platter. Our big Swede doesn't miss from there. Three goals in red and white already, and looking every inch the striker we've been crying out for.

There was even drama for Raya's 100th Arsenal appearance, a looping deflection that clipped the bar before Christian Mosquera slid in to snuff out the rebound. That clean sheet wasn't getting spoiled on his watch.

The Brace That Broke Forest

By the time Zubimendi ghosted into the box to head home a Leandro Trossard cross—yes, a header from a man whose haircut looks allergic to aerial duels—the game was long over. His first career brace, his first goal from distance, his first real love letter to the Emirates faithful. From San Sebastián to N5, Zubi has arrived.

The Numbers Game

• Unbeaten in nine home Premier League meetings with Forest.
• Three straight clean sheets at home for the first time since 2021.
• Gyokeres joins the "scored in both home debuts" club, alongside Chamakh and Lacazette—make of that what you will.
• Eze becomes the first Englishman to mark his first league start for us with a goal involvement since the Ox.
• Trossard, quietly and efficiently, hit 50 Arsenal goal contributions. Only Saka outpaces him since his debut.

What's Next

We pack our bags for Bilbao and the return of Champions League football, before City roll into town. Then a midweek trip to Port Vale in the Carabao Cup—proof, if needed, that football is a game of extremes.

Loose Cannon Verdict:

Zubimendi may not have been the headline signing of the summer, but this was his star-is-born moment. Wondergoal, brace, swagger—he's not just here to keep things tidy, he's here to dominate. The best part? This was only game four.