Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 on the opening weekend of the Premier League thanks in large part to Bukayo Saka’s outstanding first-half goal.

With a curling shot from outside the box that slid beautifully past former Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner and into the top left corner of the Forest net, the 21-year-old England forward added to Eddie Nketiah’s 26th-minute goal.

However, the Premier League runners-up from the previous campaign had to hold off a late Forest charge after substitute Taiwo Awoniyi scored a goal in the 83rd minute.

Due to an e-ticketing system malfunction, the game was 30 minutes late and most spectators were still outside Emirates Stadium when it was supposed to start at 12:30 BST.

When the game finally started, Brennan Johnson of Wales had the first real chance for Nottingham Forest against Aaron Ramsdale, but the Wales forward lofted his shot high and wide as the Arsenal goalkeeper hurried off his mark.

Up until Awoniyi assisted the guests in roaring to life and producing a suspenseful conclusion, Forests’ chances for the remainder of the game were slim to none.