Arsenal found the one clean opening that mattered at the City Ground, Noni Madueke striking 10 minutes from time to settle a tight Premier League afternoon against Nottingham Forest.
Forest had made the running in spells and threw bodies forward in the closing minutes, but Arsenal’s defence held firm after Declan Rice supplied Madueke for the decisive finish. The result from Sunday’s seventh-round fixture was Nottingham Forest 0 Arsenal 1.
Quick facts
- Noni Madueke scored Arsenal’s winner in the 80th minute.
- Rice created the goal, with Madueke finishing right-footed from inside the box.
- Madueke entered at half-time for Eberechi Eze and was booked in the 53rd minute.
- Forest brought on Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood, Ibrahim Sangaré and Arnaud Kalimuendo during the second half.
- Neco Williams was cautioned for Forest in the 17th minute.
The first half had plenty of industry and rather less certainty in front of goal. Forest threatened through Dan Ndoye, Liam Delap and Neco Williams, while Arsenal had efforts from Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhães without finding a way through.
Forest’s best early chance came when Delap laid the ball into Ndoye’s path, only for the forward to send his shot wide. David Raya later conceded a corner after Jair Cunha challenged him, and the home side continued to test Arsenal from set pieces.
Arsenal carried danger of their own down the right, where Bukayo Saka repeatedly drew fouls. Havertz headed over from a Rice delivery before firing narrowly wide after Martin Ødegaard picked him out in the area.
There were interruptions before the interval for injuries to Murillo, Xaver Schlager and Bruno Guimarães. Forest finished the half with a flurry of corners, but Murillo’s blocked effort and Schlager’s shot off target left the score goalless at the break.
Mikel Arteta turned to Madueke immediately after the restart, replacing Eze. The substitute was involved quickly, seeing an effort blocked and then collecting a yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Nicolás Domínguez.
Forest had their moments after the interval. James McAtee narrowly missed from a free-kick, Murillo forced a low save with a header, and Delap saw shots blocked as the home side pressed Arsenal back.
Arsenal changed the shape of the contest on 66 minutes, sending on Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyökeres and Jurriën Timber for Guimarães, Havertz and Ben White. Gabriel then headed too high from a Rice corner, while Gyökeres missed the target with a header from Saka’s cross.
The breakthrough arrived in the 80th minute. Rice found Madueke on the left side of the Forest penalty area, and the winger drove a right-footed finish through the middle of the goal.
Forest responded with fresh attackers, Hudson-Odoi and Wood joining Sangaré and Kalimuendo from the bench. Delap tested Raya from distance, Wood had a close-range attempt blocked and Murillo flashed a late effort just wide after Neco Williams created the opening.
In stoppage time, Delap had another shot blocked following a Murillo pass, earning a corner in the process. Arsenal dealt with it, and Raya was fouled by Sangaré as Forest’s final push ran out of road.
