In Summary

• Substitute Noni Madueke scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute—Arsenal’s only shot on target in the entire match—to earn a gritty 1-0 win at the City Ground.
• The victory lifts defending champions Arsenal back into second place with 15 points, keeping them three points behind league leaders Manchester City.
• Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest created 14 total chances but failed to capitalize, slipping into the relegation zone in 18th place as their wait for a home victory continues.

Arsenal demonstrated the trademark resilience of champions at the City Ground on Sunday evening, snatching a narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forestated the trademark resilience of champions at the City Ground on Sunday evening, snatching a narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest despite delivering a flat, low-octane performance.

In a contest that lacked offensive imagination for long stretches, second-half substitute Noni Madueke proved to be the difference-maker, cutting in from the left flank in the 80th minute to unleash a strike that deflected past Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.

The late breakthrough represented Arsenal’s solitary shot on target across 90 minutes, but it was enough to secure their sixth league win from seven matches, keeping Mikel Arteta’s side within three points of table-topping Manchester City while leaving Forest stuck in the bottom three.

Tactical Stalemate and Scrappy First Half

Both sides entered the match under tactical discipline, resulting in a cagey, chance-starved opening period.

Arsenal dominated possession with over 60% of the ball, yet struggled to penetrate Forest’s well-organized low block.

For the second time in the Premier League this season, an opening 45 minutes ended without a single shot on target registered by either team.

Eberechi Eze, handed his first Premier League start of the campaign in midfield, found himself effectively stifled by Forest’s engine room of Ibrahim Sangaré and Nicolás Domínguez.

Madueke Delivers Impact Off the Bench

Seeking greater directness, Arteta introduced Noni Madueke at the interval in place of Eze.

The 24-year-old winger injected immediate urgency into the Gunners’ right channel, taking on defenders and forcing Forest’s backline to retreat.

As the match appeared destined for a goalless draw, the crucial moment arrived ten minutes from time.

Gathering a pass from Declan Rice on the edge of the box, Madueke cut inward and drilled a left-footed effort that took a severe deflection off defender Jair Cunha, wrong-footing Sels as it flashed into the net.

Forest pressed aggressively for an equalizer during six minutes of stoppage time.

Veteran forward Chris Wood looked set to score from close range in the 89th minute, only for Rice to produce a recovery tackle inside the six-yard box.

Moments later, defender Murillo saw a long-range rocket whistle inches over David Raya’s crossbar.

Title Pursuit Intact as Forest Sinks to 18th

The victory marks Arsenal’s 32nd 1-0 league win since Mikel Arteta assumed management in December 2019—the joint-highest of any Premier League club alongside Everton over that span.

“At this level, you have to find different ways to win when you aren’t at your fluent best,” Arteta noted post-match. “The patience, defensive concentration, and impact from our bench made the difference today.”

For Nottingham Forest, the narrow defeat extends a worrying winless run at the City Ground this season, dropping them into 18th place with five points.

Meanwhile, Arsenal return to North London sitting second on 15 points as they prepare for mid-week European action.