Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory at the City Ground, with Noni Madueke’s late strike finally breaking Nottingham Forest’s defensive resolve. The result was a crucial response for Mikel Arteta’s side, who were looking to move past their recent 3-0 defeat against Brighton—a result that remains the only major setback in their current campaign. Coming into the game, Arsenal trailed league leaders Manchester City by six points, making the three points vital as they continue to navigate the current season. It was a game that came to feel increasingly set up for the famous terrace chant. Forest refused to accept the inevitable. All Arsenal can do is play the situation as it stands and this was an occasion when the result was everything. They were resolved not to give up any easy yards.
For Nottingham Forest, the afternoon was defined by an ongoing lack of attacking output under manager Oliver Glasner. The team has now failed to score at home in all their stadium appearances this season, with this match marking the fifth time they have been kept scoreless during Glasner’s tenure. Despite missing the injured Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest delivered a spirited display, particularly through striker Liam Delap, who proved to be a constant nuisance for the Arsenal defense. However, their inability to find the net meant they could have arguably played all night without securing a goal. Bits to like, especially a full-throttle performance from Liam Delap in the No 9 position, it was another spirited performance from them. Or, as the travelling hordes would have it, one-nil to the champions. The lack of incisive movement was glaring. He needed to shake things up because nothing was happening for his team. With Delap continuing to put himself about, it was Forest who pushed after the restart.
Arsenal’s approach was largely flat and predictable for much of the contest. And yet they were flat and predictable until the closing stages.
They dominated possession against a compact Forest side setup in a 5-4-1 formation but struggled to break them down. The first half was particularly devoid of quality, ending with zero shots on target for either team. This performance followed a trend for the visitors, who have failed to score in the first half of seven out of 10 matches since the Community Shield. A rare moment of tension occurred in the 44th minute when a free-kick hit Bruno Guimarães, prompting the Forest faithful to taunt the Arsenal players with chants of, “Are you City in disguise?” Which he has worked to earn after a difficult start to the season, the connection was pure and that was when he caught a break. Will it matter when the sanctions for their rule breaches are meted out. The Forest support were unhappy at what they perceived as Arsenal’s use of the dark arts. “Are you City in disguise?” they chanted. Working on the principle that it is difficult for fans to get animated if their team do not have the ball, they tried to suck the life out of the home crowd. Who went down and stayed down, neco Williams thumped it at Bruno Guimarães. He had a good look at the ball and was well-placed.
Seeking a breakthrough, Arteta made tactical adjustments early in the second half. He initially replaced Eberechi Eze with Madueke before launching a triple substitution in the 66th minute, bringing on Jurriën Timber, Mikel Merino, and Viktor Gyökeres for Ben White, Guimarães, and Kai Havertz. The change provided the necessary energy. In the 72nd minute, Martin Ødegaard nearly unlocked the defense with a pass to Timber, but the resulting cutback led to a wayward shot from Declan Rice. The manager sending on Jurriën Timber, Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyökeres for Ben White, Guimarães and Havertz, there was also a triple substitution on 66 minutes.
The decisive moment arrived in the 80th minute when Rice provided a pass to Madueke. The winger cut inside from the left and unleashed a strike that deflected off Jair Cunha, wrong-footing goalkeeper Matz Sels. Despite a late surge from Forest—including a blocked effort from Rice against Chris Wood and a late, desperate strike from Murillo—Arsenal held firm. A final, crucial goal-line intervention came from an Ezri Konsa block on Delap to ensure the win. Chris Wood, on as a substitute, delayed too long and saw Rice block. Delap carried the physical fight; the Forest centre-forward was a willing and direct runner and he won a free-kick off Rice just outside the Arsenal box on 44 minutes. Murillo headed wide from a Forest corner in the 20th minute and was bloodied into the bargain; there was a whistle for a foul in the mass of bodies inside the six-yard box. At the other end, Kai Havertz headed over from a Rice free-kick on 37 minutes.
Reflecting on the result, Madueke noted the mental shift within the squad. “We showed a champion spirit,” he said. “Maybe last season, this game might not have gone for us. We have the extra belief and mentality.” The victory provides a necessary momentum boost for the Gunners, who had previously drawn 0-0 in their two most recent trips to this part of the east Midlands.
