Madueke strike gives Arsenal hard-fought win at Nottingham Forest

Noni Madueke struck 10 minutes from time to earn Arsenal a scrappy 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest and move them within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Arsenal were far below their best at the City Ground and did not manage a shot on target until Madueke’s deflected effort in the 80th minute.

The result mattered more than the performance for Mikel Arteta’s side, who responded to their surprise 3-0 defeat by Brighton on 19 September with a third consecutive victory. They had previously beaten Leeds in the Premier League and Lille in the Champions League.

Manchester City remain top after their 3-2 win over Ipswich on Saturday, but Arsenal’s latest success was their sixth in seven league matches.

The north London club have not reproduced the relentless consistency that carried them to a first title in 22 years last season. However, they continue to show an ability to win difficult matches despite struggling to impose their usual style.

Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday before hosting Everton in the Premier League next weekend.

Forest, who are third from bottom, have now won only twice at home in their past 17 league matches. Oliver Glasner has recorded one victory in seven top-flight games since taking charge during the close season.

Arsenal make late breakthrough

Bukayo Saka’s cross forced Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels to reach under his crossbar and claw the ball away, but Arsenal found it difficult to build any rhythm during a scrappy first half.

Forest created one of the better early openings when Dan Ndoye drifted towards the far post and tested David Raya.

Arsenal’s clearest chance before the interval fell to Kai Havertz, who shot into the side-netting from a narrow angle after Martin Odegaard’s pass had opened up the home defence.

Arteta responded to a listless opening 45 minutes by replacing Eberechi Eze with Madueke at half-time, but the visitors initially remained subdued. Forest forward Liam Delap then drove narrowly wide after a powerful run.

With Arsenal slow in possession and lacking threat in the final third, Arteta brought on Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyokeres and Jurrien Timber in an attempt to change the game.

Bruno Guimaraes was among those withdrawn after another disappointing display in only his second league start since his summer move from Newcastle.

Gabriel Magalhaes headed over from a Declan Rice corner, while Delap was unable to direct Xaver Schlager’s pass past Raya.

Odegaard later found Timber, whose cut-back reached Rice inside the penalty area. The midfielder’s poor finish sailed over the crossbar, summing up Arsenal’s lack of attacking sharpness.

It was the first time since 2023 that Arsenal had failed to register a shot on target during the opening 70 minutes of a Premier League match.

They finally broke through when Madueke cut in from the left and struck a powerful shot which took a substantial deflection off Forest defender Jair Cunha before beating Sels.

Forest almost snatched a point in stoppage time, but Murillo’s fierce effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.