Arsenal’s late resilience keeps title defence on track after Forest win

Arsenal’s growing ability to win tight matches helped them overcome a slow start and beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Sunday, keeping them three points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

The result came after another laboured attacking display in the first half, with substitute Noni Madueke finally breaking Forest’s resistance in the 80th minute. His deflected effort was Arsenal’s first shot on target.

Mikel Arteta’s side have scored 11 goals in seven league games, the second-lowest total among the top six. That is eight fewer than Manchester City and 12 fewer than third-placed Brighton & Hove Albion. Eight of Arsenal’s goals have come after half-time.

“The longer the game goes on, they have more belief. You have to take more risks, and that’s when the game can break,” Arteta told Sky Sports.

Madueke, who replaced Eberechi Eze at the interval, said Arsenal had developed the resilience to win matches they might have lost last season.

“At times maybe last year, this game might have not gone as it did for us in the end, but I think we’ve got that extra belief, that extra mentality now,” he said.

“We know we’re the champions, and we know we can pull out the bag wherever we go and just delighted we were able to do it today.”

The 24-year-old also credited Arsenal’s squad depth, saying competition for places was helping the team make an impact late in games.

“If you look at the quality of our starting 11 and bench it’s absurd, so we know that we’re going to start some and finish some [games] and for me it’s the same mentality every time, I just want to create or score. Amazing feeling [to score], but I feel better about the win,” he said.

“We have elite players, all 20-something players are elite and of the highest level. It’s great to have that type of competition, you know on the bench you’re ready to have an impact.”

Forest’s defeat left them 18th with five points. They have yet to win or score at the City Ground this season.

Ibrahim Sangare hesitated instead of clearing the ball, prompting visible frustration from Forest manager Oliver Glasner. Madueke then went past Daniel Munoz before his shot took a deflection off Jair Cunha and wrong-footed Matz Sels. Murillo nearly rescued a point in stoppage time, beating three players before shooting narrowly wide.

Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion moved third on 16 points after Diego Gomez scored from inside his own half in a 5-0 victory over Crystal Palace. Jaydee Canvot’s own goal opened the scoring in the fourth minute, before Gomez, Yasin Ayari, Charalampos Kostoulas and Jack Hinshelwood completed the rout.

Manchester United drew 1-1 with Leeds United at Elland Road. Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead in the 35th minute, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised after half-time. Leeds are seventh, while United are 13th with one win from seven games.

Lisandro Martinez retained his place in Michael Carrick’s side after criticising United’s hierarchy following their 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid, later apologising. Bournemouth beat Sunderland 2-0 to move 15th, leaving Sunderland 19th.