Arsenal returned to second place in the Premier League after Noni Madueke scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The winger came off the bench at half-time and settled a poor contest with a deflected strike 10 minutes from time.
The result kept Arsenal three points behind leaders Manchester City, whose perfect league record has left Mikel Arteta’s side with little room for error. Arsenal had started the day six points off the top and needed a response after their previous away league fixture ended in a 3-0 defeat at Brighton.
Forest, however, were left with more questions about their form under Oliver Glasner. They have now lost three consecutive league games and remain without a goal at home this season. Their failure to take late chances also proved costly against opponents who offered little attacking threat for much of the afternoon.
Arsenal controlled possession from the start but struggled to turn it into clear opportunities. Forest defended in a compact shape and limited the visitors to a slow exchange of passes across midfield.
Neither goalkeeper had a save to make in the first half. Forest came closest to creating a breakthrough when Dan Ndoye’s effort was deflected behind for a corner in the 20th minute after a mistake by Riccardo Calafiori.
The hosts also threatened from a set piece, but Murillo headed wide from a corner. At the other end, Kai Havertz failed to take advantage of a decent chance when he sent his header over the bar from Declan Rice’s free-kick in the 37th minute.
Liam Delap gave Forest a physical presence up front and worked hard to unsettle the Arsenal defence. He won a free-kick near the edge of the visitors’ penalty area shortly before half-time, but Neco Williams could not make the most of the opportunity.
Arteta responded to his team’s lack of attacking quality by replacing Eberechi Eze with Madueke at the interval. The change did little to improve Arsenal immediately, as Forest started the second half with greater purpose.
Delap continued to lead the home side’s efforts. One of his shots took a deflection and went into the side-netting, and Forest failed to capitalise on the resulting corner. Ndoye later escaped Gabriel Magalhaes inside the penalty area but could not get his shot away.
Arsenal made further changes in the 66th minute, with Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres coming on as Arteta looked for a way through Forest’s defence.
The visitors finally created a clear opening in the 72nd minute. Martin Odegaard played an excellent pass into the path of Timber, who reached the byline and pulled the ball back for Rice. The midfielder had space to shoot from 12 yards but sent his effort over the crossbar.
Madueke provided the decisive moment eight minutes later. Rice found the winger on the left, and he cut inside before driving a shot towards goal. The effort struck Jair Cunha and changed direction, leaving Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels unable to prevent the ball from entering the net.
The goal gave Arsenal the lead despite their lack of fluency, but Forest refused to give up. Chris Wood had a chance to equalise in the 89th minute after the hosts broke forward. He delayed his shot for too long and Rice recovered to block the attempt.
Murillo then produced another promising attack deep into stoppage time. The defender moved into the penalty area but fired over the bar when he had an opportunity to test David Raya.
Delap had one final chance to rescue a point for Forest, only for Ezri Konsa to make a superb last-ditch tackle and deny him.
