Nketiah got the campaign off and running on 26 minutes when he netted after an outrageous assist from Gabriel Martinelli, and six minutes later a bullet from Saka doubled our advantage.
However we couldn’t quite kill the game off when Taiwo Awoniyi pulled a goal back eight minutes from time Gooners’ nerves were jangling, but we held on to start the campaign victorious.
The game had been delayed by 30 minutes because of an e-ticketing system issue that meant the majority of fans were still outside Emirates Stadium at the scheduled kick-off time of 12:30 BST.
When play did eventually get underway, it was Nottingham Forest with the first clear-cut chance when Brennan Johnson was put through on goal against Aaron Ramsdale, but the Wales forward lofted his shot high and wide when the Arsenal goalkeeper rushed off his mark.
That was to be a rare attacking threat from the visitors as Arsenal created the majority of chances until Awoniyi helped the visitors roar to life and create a tense finish.
Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper expressed frustration with his team’s first half performance in their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal.
An improved second half saw the Reds come close to getting something from the game. And the match might have panned out differently had Brennan Johnson made the most of a good chance to open the scoring early on.
Forest were left to rue that missed opportunity when Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka found the net within a few minutes of each other. But the visitors were much more positive after the break and set up a frantic finish when Taiwo Awoniyi reduced the deficit.
Arsenal were cruising towards victory, with new £105m midfielder Declan Rice hitting the post and Forest providing little at the top end of the pitch. But Taiwo Awoniyi's goal back with seven minutes left caused a nervy end to matters at the Emirates.
Morgan Gibbs-White then curled what would have been an instant leveller over the bar but Arsenal held on for an opening weekend win.
Mikel Arteta’s side wouold have wanted to get their Premier League campaign off to a good start against Nottingham Forest, who finished four points above the relegation places in the 2022-23 season.
Arsenal have made a few key additions ahead of the start to the season, including signing Declan Rice from West Ham for a reported £105 million. While Forest, who signed 22 players after securing promotion to the top flight, have only added Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga to bolster their side for the 2023-24 season.
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