Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta highlighted the importance of his squad's depth following a narrow 1-0 Premier League victory against Nottingham Forest on October 18 at the City Ground. The result moved the Gunners within three points of league leaders Manchester City.
Arsenal struggled to create clear chances throughout the match, failing to register a shot on target until Noni Madueke came on as a substitute and scored the decisive goal in the 80th minute. Madueke’s strike, a powerful shot from the left flank that deflected past Forest goalkeeper Matez Sels, proved the difference in a contest described by Arteta as a hard-fought encounter against a well-organized Nottingham Forest side.
To influence the game, Arteta made several second-half substitutions, replacing underperforming Eberechi Eze at halftime with Madueke and later introducing Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyokeres, and Jurriem Timber. The changes helped Arsenal gain a foothold in a match where they were initially subdued.
“We had to earn it until the last second. They are a well-coached team and hard to break down. We had to take risks; they are a dangerous team,” Arteta commented after the match. He praised his bench for the impact they made, noting that players like Madueke, Timber, Merino, and Gyokeres provided crucial energy and tactical adjustments during the game.
The victory comes amid a congested fixture schedule for Arsenal, following a midweek Champions League win over Lille and ahead of a European trip to face Bayern Munich on October 21. Arteta stressed the significance of being able to rotate his squad without compromising quality, especially with key players needing rest.
“Some of them played three days ago, and some of them will start the next game, and they know that everyone has to be at it,” Arteta said. “If you are needed after 60 minutes, 45 minutes and sometimes two minutes. We have a squad now that can deliver in moments, and we have to use that.”
Arsenal are recovering well from a shock 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion on September 19, having secured three consecutive wins since that loss. Although they have yet to replicate the consistent form that secured their first league title in 22 years last season, the team continues to demonstrate resilience and an ability to grind out crucial results.
“Sometimes you can get frustrated with teams who are difficult to break down. First half we didn’t have a shot on target and that’s something we discussed,” Arteta acknowledged. “We had another two big ones in the second half, but the only one on target we had was a little deflection, and it’s in.”
Arsenal’s latest success marked their sixth win in seven league games this season, underlining the squad’s capability to compete on multiple fronts as the title race intensifies.