Difficult start in the capital for Ange and Reds as the Gunners control it

SATURDAY represented the start of a new Nottingham Forest era but it was also a full stop.

- By SARAH CLAPSON

Ange Postecoglou is a man in a hurry and he was unequivocal about the need to draw a line under what he described as a “disruptive week” and a “disappointing” result after a 3-0 loss to Arsenal. In other words, the real work begins now.

If not quite a free pass, the game against the Gunners did come with context.

It would have been a difficult test at the best of times. Throw in limited preparation time and a couple of injuries and the mountain Forest were staring up at suddenly grew a few feet.

Postecoglou understood and accepted all of that but the message in the aftermath was clear: Wednesday night (away to Swansea City) and beyond will be different.

That is when we will see the Reds in the new head coach's own image - at least, according to the man himself.

“No mate, it won't be months and it won’t be weeks. It will be Wednesday,” said Postecoglou when quizzed on how long it might take to implement his ideas.

“I can’t afford to waste time. This is not a project.”

So what did we learn about the new man and how Forest might fare under him? Here are the big talking points from the Emirates Stadium.

Style switch

Having had only one training session as a full group before heading south, Postecoglou felt it best not to change too much.

The only alteration he made to the starting XI from what proved to be Nuno Espirito Santo’s final game in charge, the 3-0 loss to West Ham United before the international break, was an enforced one.