Madueke Fires Arsenal Past Forest to Keep Pressure on Manchester City

Noni Madueke’s second-half finish earned Arsenal a demanding 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest, keeping Mikel Arteta’s side within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City. Arsenal remain second on 18 points, while City’s perfect start has preserved their place at the summit.

A patient response at the City Ground

Arsenal encountered the sort of contest they have come to expect against an opponent prepared to defend deep and play directly. Forest repeatedly targeted aerial balls and looked to turn the match into a physical battle, leaving the visitors short of space in attacking areas.

Neither team managed a shot on target before the interval, only the second Premier League first half of the season to finish without one. Arsenal were involved in the other instance as well, during their 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on August 31, when Bukayo Saka decided the game after the break.

Madueke said Arsenal anticipated a difficult afternoon and had to remain composed while they controlled possession. He described Forest’s approach as involving “a lot of direct play” and said the visitors had to dig in before taking all three points.

• Arsenal won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest.
• The Gunners hold second place on 18 points.
• Manchester City are three points ahead with a 100 per cent record.
• Forest are still waiting for their first home league win of the campaign.
• Neither side registered an on-target effort in the opening half.

Madueke finds the decisive opening

Arsenal’s breakthrough came when Madueke cut inside, spotted room to shoot and sent an effort towards goal. A deflection assisted the ball on its way in, but the winger’s willingness to take responsibility supplied the moment the match had been missing.

The 24-year-old said that Arsenal knew they would have most of the ball, making patience essential against Forest’s crowded defensive set-up. The visitors eventually selected the right moment to strike after a largely uneventful first period.

The result also continued an established Arteta-era trend. Since the manager’s appointment in December 2019, Arsenal have collected 32 Premier League victories by a 1-0 scoreline. That is the division’s joint-highest total in that period, level with Everton.

Competition and defensive work underline the result

Madueke placed greater value on the victory than his own goal, pointing to the standard throughout Arsenal’s squad. He said the quality in both the starting side and among the substitutes creates constant competition, with players required to be ready whether they begin the match or enter later.

He added that his own approach does not change: he wants to create chances or score regardless of his role on the day. The winger also praised the collective work that delivered another clean sheet.

Forest remained a threat on counter-attacks and Arsenal’s forwards were required to contribute without the ball as much as the defenders. Madueke stressed that defending is a responsibility shared by all 11 players, while recognising the quality of Arsenal’s goalkeeper and back line in seeing out a narrow but important away win.