Arsenal have began their new English Premier League campaign with a nervy 2-1 home win over Nottingham Forest, after first-half goals from Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka.
Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi gave Arsenal a heart-in-mouth moment with a late goal, but victory moved last year's runners-up level with leaders Manchester City on three points, but behind on goal difference, after the champions beat Burnley 3-0 on Friday.
Kickoff was delayed by 30 minutes, due to turnstile issues at Emirates Stadium, which prevented fans from getting in on time, but once the game kicked off, Arsenal shot out of the blocks, dominating possession and cutting through Forest's defence.
The home side got away with an early mistake at the back, which allowed Brennan Johnson to run through on goal, but the forward blazed his shot over, leaving manager Steve Cooper with his hands on his head.
Arsenal's persistence paid off and they put an end to Forest's stubborn resistance, when a sublime pirouette from Gabriel Martinelli put two defenders in a spin and set up Nketiah, who fired home past former Arsenal keeper Matt Turner.
They doubled the lead six minutes later, when Saka received the ball at the edge of the box and curled in his shot from distance, giving Turner no chance to make a save.
The second half began on a sour note for Arsenal, when new signing Jurrien Timber hobbled off, holding the back of his knee, after suffering a knock just before halftime.
Arsenal took their foot off the gas, but club-record signing Declan Rice nearly marked his league debut with a goal, when the midfielder had two attempts, although Turner denied the 105-million-pound recruit on both occasions.
Forest scored against the run of play, when they launched a counterattack from an Arsenal set-piece and as the defence scrambled to recover, Anthony Elanga sprinted down the left and found Awoniyi, who made it 2-1.
The final few minutes were frantic at both ends, but Arsenal eventually held on for the three points.
Later, Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali netted on his league debut and striker Alexander Isak added two more goals, as the Magpies beat Aston Villa 5-1 in their first game of the new season at St James' Park.
Tonali, who signed for Newcastle from AC Milan in July, needed only six minutes to get on the scoresheet, as he slid in to volley home Anthony Gordon's cross and almost added a second two minutes later.
Moussa Diaby's sizzling half-volley put Villa level in the 11th minute, but Newcastle soon took the lead again, with a brilliantly-worked free-kick routine that ended with Sven Botman teeing up Isak for a simple finish.
Sweden international Isak exploited a dreadful error by defender Ezri Konza to add Newcastle's third in the 58th minute with a sublime chip. Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes both came off the bench to score, and complete the rout, sending their side to the top of the table on goal difference.
Reuters
