Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table on Sunday, beating Nottingham Forest 5-0 in what ended up being a comfortable afternoon.
The day wasn't without its concerns, with Bukayo Saka forced off through injury in the first half. However, Reiss Nelson's first goals of the season helped Mikel Arteta take all three points, with Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard also on target.
The scoreline was the perfect way to round off an afternoon which began with a tribute to Pablo Mari, the out-on-loan defender who was recovering after being stabbed in Italy during the week. Here are the latest news lines from north London.
Hope for Saka
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains hopeful that the injury suffered by Bukayo Saka will not keep him out of the World Cup. The 21-year-old suffered a kick early in the game, and received treatment on the pitch before eventually making way after about half an hour.
"Hopefully not," Arteta said when quizzed on Saka's international hopes. England begin their World Cup campaign in Qatar in less than a month, with the Gunners' number seven in contention to start the opening game against Iran if fit.
"It was a bad kick. Right from the beginning he was limping, but I don’t see any further than that. Let’s see how he is in the next couple of days."
Tavares horror show
Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares had a nightmare game on Sunday as Marseille failed to turn dominance into victory. The Portuguese youngster came on with his team leading 2-0 at Strasbourg, only for the hosts to find a way back into the game.
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“I am sad and particularly disappointed because at half-time, we should have been leading 5-0," Marseille manager Igor Tudor said. "We have to kill this match. The two goals were conceded much too easily.”
Next up for Marseille is a make-or-break Champions League game against Tottenham at Stade Velodrome. Victory for the Ligue 1 side would send them through to the last 16, but anything less and they will be out of the competition.
Arsenal's Mari tribute
Before kicking off against Forest, Arsenal's players paid tribute to Spanish centre-back Pablo Mari. The defender, who is on loan at Serie A side Monza, was the victim of a stabbing at a supermarket in Milan.
Mari suffered a deep wound in his back after the incident, in which one victim died. The former Flamengo man was admitted to hospital, where he underwent surgery, and was later discharged.
Arsenal's players and management paid tribute to the 29-year-old before kick-off, holding up a shirt bearing his name. Team-mate Martinelli also held up the shirt after opening the scoring in the 5-0 victory
