Arsenal player ratings: Kieran Tierney makes brilliant bow as Emery sees new side to Chambers – Football.London, Football.london

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Emiliano Martinez:A quiet night for the Argentine, who had only one save to make in the first two-thirds of the game. His distribution was solid but there were few moments where he could stand out.5

Calum Chambers:He looks a completely different player to the one who looked unable to play at right-back before he went to Fulham. Chambers bombed up and down the flank with abandon, delivering tempting crosses and dovetailing well with Mesut Ozil.

A brilliant cross for Gabriel Martinelli was the crowning moment of the night for Chambers but there were plenty of other bright moments, enough to suggest he will be the right-back at Old Trafford on Monday.8

Shkodran Mustafi:After a more than adequate return to the side against Eintracht Frankfurt last week this was more of the same from Mustafi, who might have made a memorable return to the Emirates when his backheeled flick of a corner nearly beat Arijanet Muric at his near post.6

Rob Holding:This was that rarest of games for an Arsenal defender, one where you hardly noticed them. Usually a center-back in this side stands out for all the wrong reasons but not Holding, who got on with his job with a minimum of fuss.

A commanding , cool tackle on Sammy Ameobi when Forest bore down on goal typified this elegant display whilst the goal did his cause no harm.7

Kieran Tierney:It is very important not to get carried away with a player who has clearly established himself in the space of 90 minutes as the man to supplant Ashley Cole and Nigel Winterburn as the greatest left-back in Arsenal history. Ok, that may be some way off but the initial signs are very encouraging indeed.

Not only does he have an ability to put a cross on a six pence but he seems to relish defending. He hits opponents hard but fair, just the sort of approach the Gunners have been crying out for.8

Lucas Torreira:The Uruguayan did what you would want from a senior player on a night like tonight, mopping up in behind the midfield and making controlled tackles and interceptions when called upon upon do so.6

Joe Willock:Energy and drive personified, Willock showed he can make as great an impact from deep as he does in an advanced role. At one end he was astutely intercepting Forest passes at the other getting into positions to have attempts on goal, scoring the third after a superb dart into the area.8

Emile Smith Rowe:Few individuals have had a 2019 as frustrating as Smith Rowe, who had just been establishing himself on the game. In the 40 minutes he did manage before a clash of heads forced him off he showed flashes of being the sort of creative multiplier a frontline needs , drifting into space and combining dangerously with his fellow forwards.6

Mesut Ozil:The German perhaps didn’t stand out like others did but that has never been his way. As the game wore on and his team-mates energy levels depleted he became increasingly incisive, invariably making the right decision whether it be to pass or run with the ball.

It won’t have an impact on Ozil’s long-term future but this was a more than pleasing night for the German.7

Reiss Nelson:Plenty of what Nelson attempted in the driving rain of the Emirates Stadium didn’t pay off. Plenty did too. His crosses were invariably fired in with pace and curl, asking questions of the Forest defense. Perhaps spurred on by Bukayo Saka’s fine form in his preferred position Nelson did everything he could, including striking late on, to remind Emery of his own qualities.8

Gabriel Martinelli:An outstanding first start for Martinelli, a whirling dervish who pressed Nottingham Forest defenders to distraction and rarely looked anything other than determined to score. Sometimes that meant he looked to shoot when he might have passed but when he is scoring goals like the brilliant header with which he opened his account and a curling second just before full-time maybe he deserves the benefit of the doubt.8

(Bukayo Saka) sub, Smith Rowe, 45 ‘):Combined brilliantly with Tierney down the left and seemed to relish taking a leading role in proceedings, invariably looking to attack aggressively and force his defenders to make a mistake.7

Dani Ceballos (sub, Ozil, 71 ‘):Continued where Ozil had begun with a solid performance, building a canvas on which the young guns could shine.6

Hector Bellerin (sub, Tierney, 77 ‘):A thunderous ovation welcomed Bellerin back to the Emirates and he soon delighted the supporters with one of his familiar cutback assists. It is good to have him back.6