Nottingham Forest 0-4 Arsenal: Lucas Perez's double helps Arsenal into fourth round

Lucas Perez's first goals for Arsenal helped book Arsene Wenger's side a place in the fourth round of the EFL Cup after a 4-0 win against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Granit Xhaka scored his second goal in as many games, drilling a shot powerfully past Vladimir Stojkovic to give Arsenal a 23rd minute lead.

Nicklas Bendtner, making his first start for Forest against his former side, had a number of half chances but it wasn't to be his or Forest's night as the Gunners took full control in the second half.

Chuba Akpom was nudged over in the penalty area by Michael Mancienne and Lucas made no mistake from the spot (60) to score his first Arsenal goal.

And the Spaniard quickly had his second (71) before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain added a late fourth (90+2) to send Arsenal marching into the next round.

Arsenal made 11 changes from the side that beat Hull at the weekend but it was the inclusion of former Gunners striker Bendtner in the Nottingham Forest line-up that made the headlines.

Another former Gunner Henri Lansbury looked to pick out the Danish striker in just the sixth minute, but Gabriel was well-positioned to head clear

Bendtner, who was booked for a late lunge on Xhaka, was involved again just three minutes later, pinching the ball off Rob Holding before pulling the ball back for Pajtim Kasami. However, the Swiss midfielder dragged his shot wide with just Emiliano Martinez to beat.

In the 12th minute, applause from both sets of supports sounded out around the City Ground to mark the 12th anniversary of former Forest manager Brian Clough's death, as Akpom forced Stojkovic into a smart save at his near post.

But the Forest goalkeeper, who got a hand to the ball, could not keep out Xhaka's powerful shot as Arsenal took the lead in the 23rd minute with their 400th League Cup goal.

The goal seemed to give the much-changed Arsenal confidence as Elneny tried his luck from 25 yards but his effort could not match the accuracy of Xhaka.

Arsenal almost doubled their advantage just before the interval as Oxlade-Chamberlain broke forward before picking out Akpom. The striker then slipped the ball to Jeff Reine-Adelaide, who poked the ball just wide of the far post.

Bendtner, who tested Martinez just before half-time, was in on goal again immediately after the restart but the Danish striker fluffed his lines, dragging his shot wide of the post.

Arsenal then took control of the tie and they doubled their advantage on the 60 minute mark when Akpom was pushed off the ball by Mancienne in the penalty area.

Lucas made no mistake from the spot and 11 minutes later he was celebrating again after being played in by Akpom. The Spanish striker held off the challenge of Mancienne, powering his way through the Forest defence before rounding the goalkeeper and rolling the ball home into the empty net.

The former Deportivo striker could have had a hat-trick shortly afterwards but Stojkovic smothered his 15-yard effort.

At the other end, Martinez held a crisp Ben Osborn strike late on before Perez put Oxlade-Chamberlain through on goal and he slotted a low shot into the bottom corner of the net to round off a comfortable evening for Wenger's team.