Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, with the decisive goal coming late in the second half from substitute Noni Madueke. The result maintained Arsenal’s position just behind early league leaders Manchester City, but raised questions about their attacking fluidity and clinical edge.

The match was marked by a lack of clear-cut chances and minimal attacking flair from both sides. Neither team had scored at the City Ground this season before the game, and that trend continued as Forest remained without a home goal under new manager Oliver Glasner. Forest, now in the relegation zone, have struggled offensively, scoring only five goals this campaign.

Arsenal dominated possession throughout but struggled to break down Forest’s compact 5-4-1 defensive setup. The first half was uneventful, with neither side managing a shot on target. Arsenal’s forwards appeared flat and predictable, highlighted by a subdued performance from Eberechi Eze, who was replaced at halftime by Madueke.

Madueke made an immediate impact after coming on, injecting pace and directness into Arsenal’s attack. His winning strike arrived in the 80th minute when he cut inside from the left and fired a shot that deflected off Forest defender Jair Cunha, wrong-footing goalkeeper Matš Sels. The goal came following a moment of hesitation in Forest’s midfield when Ibrahim Sangaré was slow to clear the ball, allowing Arsenal to capitalize.

Forest responded with determination, pressing for an equalizer. Substitute Chris Wood came close but was blocked by Declan Rice, while Forest’s Murillo had a curling shot off target and Liam Delap was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa. Despite their sustained efforts, Forest could not find the breakthrough, extending their goalless home run under Glasner.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture, describing Forest as well-organized and emphasizing the need for patience. He praised Madueke’s contribution, noting the winger’s renewed intensity and confidence as key to the victory. Arteta also made several substitutions, including a triple change in the second half that brought on Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino, and Viktor Gyökeres in an attempt to invigorate Arsenal’s play.

While the win keeps Arsenal within striking distance of the league leaders, concerns remain over their goal-scoring output. With just 11 goals in seven league matches—substantially fewer than rivals—questions persist about their ability to maintain their title defense in the absence of sustained attacking threat.

Forest, missing injured midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, showed fight and flashes of promise, particularly from Delap, whose physical and clever play kept Arsenal’s defence occupied. However, their inability to convert chances has compounded early-season struggles and compounded pressure on Glasner as the campaign progresses.