According to a report by The Guardian on Sunday, October 18, 2026, Arsenal struggled to turn their possession into clear scoring opportunities during the first half of their Premier League encounter against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Despite controlling much of the ball, Mikel Arteta's side found it difficult to break through Forest's organised defensive structure, leaving several attacking players under pressure to improve their performances after the break.

Eberechi Eze was one of the Arsenal players who struggled to make the desired impact in the opening 45 minutes. The attacking midfielder had opportunities to contribute to the team's build-up play but failed to provide the creativity and decisive movement needed to unlock Nottingham Forest's defence. Arsenal needed him to find spaces between the opposition's defensive lines and deliver more dangerous passes, but the Gunners lacked the attacking sharpness required to take control of the contest.

Kai Havertz also faced difficulties in the first half. Although he had an opportunity following an incisive pass from Declan Rice, Arsenal could not turn the move into a goal. The German forward needed to do more to trouble Forest's defenders, hold up the ball effectively and take advantage of the limited opportunities that came his way. With Arsenal struggling to create clear chances, his contribution in the final third was particularly important.

Another concern was Arsenal's overall attacking approach. Bukayo Saka attempted to create danger from the right flank, including delivering a cross that forced Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels into action. However, Arsenal's attacking moves generally lacked the pace and precision needed to consistently threaten the home side. Even with their advantage in possession, the visitors struggled to turn their territorial dominance into meaningful chances.

The midfield also needed to provide greater support to the forwards. Martin Odegaard was expected to help Arsenal move the ball quickly and find openings through the middle, but Forest's compact defensive organisation made it difficult for the Gunners to establish a consistent attacking rhythm. Declan Rice produced some useful passes, including the ball that created Havertz's opportunity, but Arsenal needed more coordinated movement around the penalty area.

Nottingham Forest also had moments of danger on the counterattack, with Dan Ndoye producing one of the most promising opportunities of the first half before sending his effort into the side netting. This demonstrated that Forest could threaten when Arsenal lost their defensive balance.

Overall, Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz were among the Arsenal attackers who needed to improve after the interval. However, the criticism was not limited to individual players, as the team's lack of creativity and urgency affected its entire attacking performance. Arteta needed his players to move the ball faster, make better decisions in the final third and show greater composure in front of goal if Arsenal were to find a breakthrough against Nottingham Forest.