Madueke rescues Arsenal with late winner against Nottingham Forest

Arsenal needed a late deflected goal from substitute Noni Madueke to secure a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, October 18, keeping them within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City.

The reigning champions struggled to create clear chances at the City Ground before Madueke broke the deadlock in the 80th minute, converting Arsenal’s first shot on target to settle a tense contest.

Mikel Arteta’s side had dominated possession for periods but lacked attacking sharpness in the first half, allowing Forest to remain competitive and frustrate the visitors.

The breakthrough came after Madueke, introduced at half-time for Eberechi Eze, cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful effort that took a deflection off Forest defender Jair Cunha before beating goalkeeper Matz Sels.

The goal rewarded Arsenal’s persistence after a difficult afternoon in which their attacking play lacked its usual fluency.

Arsenal rely on late impact

The victory continued a pattern of Arsenal scoring more frequently after the interval. Eight of their 11 Premier League goals this season had come in the second half after the match against Forest, highlighting their ability to find solutions late in games.

However, their overall scoring record remained relatively modest compared with other leading sides, with their 11 goals from seven league matches the second-lowest tally among the top six at the time.

Arteta said Arsenal grew in confidence as the match progressed, explaining that opponents often became more vulnerable when forced to take greater risks.

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

Madueke also pointed to the team’s growing confidence and resilience, suggesting Arsenal had developed a stronger mentality to win difficult matches.

The England winger said the squad’s depth was proving valuable, with players coming off the bench capable of changing the outcome of games.

He added that the quality across the starting line-up and substitutes meant players had to remain ready to make an impact whenever called upon.

Forest left frustrated

Forest had opportunities to trouble Arsenal but could not convert them into goals, extending their difficult start to the campaign at home.

Their resistance was finally broken by Madueke’s strike, leaving the hosts with little time to respond. Defender Murillo came close to rescuing a point in stoppage time, but his effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

The defeat left Forest in the relegation zone with five points from seven league matches, while they were still searching for their first home goal of the Premier League season.

Arsenal, meanwhile, moved to within three points of Manchester City, maintaining pressure on the leaders as their title defence continued.

The Gunners’ next league fixture is against Everton on October 24, giving Arteta’s side another opportunity to build momentum after grinding out a narrow but important win at the City Ground.