Arsenal controlled possession at the City Ground on Sunday, 18 October, but Nottingham Forest's compact shape left the champions with little space in front of goal. Oliver Glasner's side defended in a 5-4-1 block and looked to play long balls towards Liam Delap, who enjoyed the physical battle with the Arsenal defence but had little support around him. Neither team had a shot on target before half-time, which BBC noted is only the second time that has happened in the Premier League this season, the first being Arsenal's 1-0 win at Aston Villa on 31 August. Arsenal have not scored before the interval in any of their last six league or Champions League games, according to the Irish Examiner, so Mikel Arteta made four changes after the break. Bukayo Saka had the first clear chance of the match in the 11th minute, but Matz Sels saved his effort.
Noni Madueke, who had replaced Eberechi Eze at half-time, cut in from the left in the 80th minute and beat Sels after a pass from Declan Rice. His shot deflected off a Forest defender on its way into the net, and it was Arsenal's first shot on target of the afternoon. Match reports disagree on the defender: The Guardian and BBC's player ratings credit Jair Cunha, while BBC's match report names Daniel Munoz. Forest had been the more dangerous side early in the second half, with Delap firing efforts from distance, but their threat faded as the game wore on and Arsenal pushed men forward.
After conceding, Forest threw everything forward and pinned Arsenal back in the closing minutes. According to The Guardian, substitute Chris Wood delayed his shot too long and saw it blocked by Rice. Forest centre-back Murillo went close in injury time, curling a shot that narrowly missed. Delap was denied at the death by a block tackle from Ezri Konsa, and Evening Standard's ratings gave Konsa and Gabriel 8 out of 10 for their defending. David Raya kept a clean sheet, his fourth in seven league matches, the Standard reported.
The win lifts Arsenal to 18 points in second place, three points behind Manchester City after seven matchdays. It is Arsenal's sixth league win of the season, and it follows a 3-0 defeat at Brighton in the previous round. Nottingham Forest have five points and sit 18th, in the relegation zone. The Guardian reported that Forest are still without a goal at the City Ground this season, and Glasner, the club's new manager, has yet to see his side win at home. Forest's first home win of the campaign therefore remains outstanding, while Arsenal keep their pursuit of Manchester City alive.
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Substitute Noni Madueke struck in the 80th minute at the City Ground, lifting Arsenal to 18 points and three behind leaders Manchester City.
AI text based on reports by SAPO, BBC, The Guardian and other publishers. Published .