According to a report by Flashscore on Sunday October 18, 2026, Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, with Noni Madueke scoring the decisive goal in the 80th minute after receiving Declan Rice’s pass. The Gunners had to withstand late pressure before securing three valuable points.

Mikel Arteta’s side dominated possession but struggled to convert their control into clear opportunities during the first half. Nottingham Forest remained competitive, while David Raya’s alert goalkeeping and Arsenal’s defensive resilience proved important as the hosts searched for an equaliser.

Madueke’s introduction at half-time changed Arsenal’s attacking approach, and his decisive finish eventually separated the teams. Declan Rice supplied the assist, while Arsenal survived several dangerous late attacks, including Chris Wood’s effort that was cleared off the goal line.

Five Arsenal players responsible for the narrow victory

1. Noni Madueke

Madueke was Arsenal’s match-winner after coming on at half-time for Eberechi Eze. In the 80th minute, he collected Declan Rice’s pass and fired towards goal from the edge of the penalty area. His shot took a deflection and beat Matz Sels, securing the crucial three points.

2. Declan Rice

Rice played a decisive role by providing the assist for Madueke’s 80th-minute winner. He also delivered several corners and contributed to Arsenal’s attacking pressure. In the 72nd minute, he came close to scoring himself, but his effort from inside the box went just over the crossbar.

3. David Raya

Raya helped Arsenal preserve their narrow advantage with important interventions throughout the contest. He gathered Nottingham’s dangerous corner deliveries and saved Xaver Schlager’s effort in first-half stoppage time. His command of the penalty area helped Arsenal withstand the hosts’ pressure.

4. Gabriel Magalhães

Gabriel contributed to Arsenal’s defensive resistance against Nottingham’s attacking threats. He also offered danger from set pieces, getting on the end of corners in the 26th and 67th minutes. His second attempt was a looping header that narrowly cleared the crossbar.

5. Jurriën Timber

Timber entered the match in the 66th minute, replacing Ben White, and helped Arsenal maintain their defensive structure during the closing stages. He also contributed going forward, setting up Rice for the promising 72nd-minute opportunity that narrowly missed the target..