Arsenal found the sort of win that can look rather ordinary on the afternoon and rather valuable when the table is counted in May, edging Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground to remain three points behind a Manchester City side still perfect after seven matches.
A slow start in Nottingham
Mikel Arteta’s side arrived needing to keep pace with the leaders during a demanding European double-header, and the manager again selected a strong line-up rather than treating the trip to Forest as a place for compromise.
Arsenal had plenty of the ball from the opening stages but moved it too slowly to create early alarm. The first attempt did not arrive until the 19th minute, when Ndoye pounced on a mistake by Riccardo Calafiori and saw his effort turned behind for a corner.
- Arsenal’s first notable opening came from a corner, Gabriel flicking a back-heel goalwards before Konsa blocked it on the line of its path.
- Kai Havertz tested Matz Sels’ resolve on two further occasions but could not find a finish.
- The first effort on target of the match came nine minutes after half-time, Murillo’s header travelling comfortably into David Raya’s hands.
Changes fail to lift the tempo
The second half initially followed the same pattern: Arsenal in possession, Forest stubbornly in place and little speed to unsettle either defence. Arteta made a triple substitution around the hour, with Mikel Merino among those introduced, but the visitors still struggled to make Sels work.
Their best flowing move involved Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber, before Declan Rice drove over the crossbar. It was a rare moment when Arsenal’s passing threatened to open the home side properly.
Madueke supplies the decisive touch
With the match drifting towards a goalless draw, Arsenal made their sole shot on target count in the 80th minute. Noni Madueke cut in from the left and struck a shot that took a slight deflection off a defender, wrong-footing the Belgian goalkeeper and putting the visitors ahead.
There was still a late fright. Murillo produced a forceful run that brought anxiety to the travelling Arsenal support, and Konsa then made a crucial block to stop Delap’s final attempt.
Arsenal saw the match through, collecting another hard-earned victory rather than a polished one. With City continuing their relentless opening to the campaign, Arteta’s side remain in pursuit — and this awkward afternoon in Nottingham may yet carry more weight than it first appeared to.
