Nottingham Forest defender Murillo looked more like his old self in defeat to Arsenal at the City Ground

It was 100 up for Murillo in the Premier League on Sunday and it was also much more like it from the Nottingham Forest defender.

Only a matter of weeks ago, head coach Oliver Glasner had challenged one of his main men to get back to his best in the Garibaldi. Murillo had missed the final weeks of last term and the early stages of pre-season due to a hamstring injury and had started the current campaign somewhat below par.

Glasner had spoken about the Brazilian’s fitness levels and suggested he had returned from his summer break not in “the shape he should come back”. He completed the full 90 minutes only once in the opening three league games.

“It is about getting rhythm,” Glasner said last month. “He has been involved in every training session, he has played in most of the games and he is getting closer and closer to his top fitness level.

“It might have maybe taken longer than we expected and he has produced okay performances. But we all know that his standards are not to be an okay player for Forest, they are to be a top player and a top defender - he has all the potential and skills for this.”

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Against Arsenal, as he brought up a century of top-flight appearances for the Reds, Murillo looked much more like his old self. And when he is in that kind of form, he can help his team at both ends of the pitch.

The 24-year-old is renowned for his nearly-worldies. So many times he has almost bagged a wonder goal.

At the weekend, there was another edge-of-the-seat moment to add to the highlights reel. With a “see ya later” and a shimmy as he cut in from the left, Murillo glided through the Gunners’ rearguard and was inches away from finding the top corner. It would have been some 91st-minute equaliser and some way to mark his milestone outing.

Given Forest’s goalscoring woes, particularly at the City Ground, don’t bet against the No.5 from offering a solution. After all, Glasner needs everyone to chip in.

On Sunday, Murillo caught the eye with both the defensive and attacking sides of his game. As he has shown before, he can be the epitome of the modern centre-back.

He was second to striker Liam Delap (four) for number of shots against the Gunners, with three. The pair contributed the hosts’ two efforts on target.

It meant Murillo finished with an individual xG (expected goals) of 0.22, according to Opta. Only Delap (0.27) fared better, while Dan Ndoye (0.13) was third-best among the Reds.

Murillo joined Xaver Schlager and James McAtee at the top of the board for chances created for his team, all with two apiece. His number of completed passes in the final third (three out of six attempted) is also testament to how he tried to get Forest going.

The former Corinthians player’s composure on the ball has long been an asset. At the City Ground, he completed the most passes out of anyone wearing the Garibaldi (27) - albeit that number is some way short of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice’s game-high 93, illustrating how the visitors dominated possession.

Murillo notched up a passing accuracy of 79.4% from his 34 played. He also made one successful dribble.

His adventurous roaming is what makes Murillo, Murillo. But it shouldn’t come at the expense of being solid at the back.

Here, again, he impressed against Arsenal. Glasner places much emphasis on his teams being tough to break down, and that was certainly the case when the reigning champions came to town.

An error from Ibrahim Sangare and a deflection off Jair Cunha did for the hosts in the end as Noni Madueke notched the winner with the visitors’ only shot on target. For the preceding 79 minutes, the Gunners had been restricted to very little as the Reds’ defensive resistance held firm.

Such resoluteness is the standard-setter for Glasner’s side. They will need to be equally robust when they return Trentside for the visit of Manchester City next month, with Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion also on the horizon for upcoming City Ground clashes.

Murillo did his bit by winning two tackles, second only to Schlager (four). He also made five recoveries, joining Schlager and McAtee in being just behind Neco Williams (seven) for the Reds’ outfield players.

The Brazilian won possession on five occasions, won one aerial duel and was second to Williams (57) among the home side for most touches with 50. All in all, he was terrific as he helped to anchor the back line.

In the 2024/25 campaign, when the Reds finished seventh, Murillo thrived alongside Nikola Milenkovic in a four-man defence. He didn’t have the Serbian next to him on this occasion and continues to adapt to Glasner’s preference for playing with a back three, but the signs were there that he is getting close to his previous high standards - and he very nearly had a wonder goal to show for it.