Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal was settled by a substitute. Noni Madueke, introduced at half-time, struck ten minutes from the end with a deflected shot to give Mikel Arteta’s side a hard-earned win at the City Ground on Sunday. The result moves Arsenal back up to second, three points behind Manchester City, and leaves Forest in the bottom three.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal: Key Facts
- Competition: Premier League, Matchweek 7
- Date: Sunday 18 October 2026
- Venue: City Ground, Nottingham
- Goal: Noni Madueke (80)
- Table after: Arsenal 2nd on 18 points, Nottingham Forest 18th on 5 points
- Next up for Arsenal: Bayern Munich away in the Champions League, Wednesday 21 October, 10:00pm EAT
A Slow, Frustrating First Half
Arsenal arrived in Nottingham on a good run, having beaten Leeds in the league and Lille 3-0 in the Champions League (see our Arsenal 3-0 Lille report). But the City Ground has been an awkward venue for them in recent seasons, and this proved to be another difficult afternoon.
The visitors dominated the ball for long spells but struggled to find a way through a well organised Forest side. Riccardo Calafiori was caught out early on in a moment that could have been costly, and Kai Havertz headed over from a good position before the break. Bukayo Saka was lively down the right and won several corners, yet Arsenal’s deliveries were cleared again and again. Neither side managed a shot on target in the first half.
Madueke Makes the Difference
Arteta acted at half-time, taking off Eberechi Eze and sending on Madueke. He followed that up midway through the second half, bringing on Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres as he searched for a breakthrough.
The changes eventually paid off. In the 80th minute, Declan Rice found Madueke on the left. The winger cut inside and hit a powerful shot that took a deflection off Jair Cunha and flew past Matz Sels. It was not the cleanest goal Arsenal will score this season, but it was enough.
Rice was outstanding throughout. As well as providing the pass for the winner, he made a vital block late on to deny Chris Wood, and Arsenal had to survive a nervy finish as Forest pushed for an equaliser. Murillo sent an effort narrowly wide in stoppage time, but the visitors held on.
Madueke’s Message
Speaking after the match, Madueke described the City Ground as a tough place to go and praised the grit his team showed. He said Arteta had told him to be direct and dangerous when he came on, and that the squad believes it can find a way to win even when it is not at its best.
Arteta, for his part, admitted the margins were fine. He felt Forest grew in belief as the game went on and that his side found it hard to create clear openings, but he was pleased to come away with three points from a ground where Arsenal have struggled.
What It Means for Arsenal
Six wins from seven league games is a strong return, and Arsenal stay right on the shoulder of Manchester City, who have won all seven. There will be concerns about how few clear chances they created, and Arteta will want a sharper attacking display when they visit Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Still, title challengers need to win games like this, and Arsenal did exactly that.
Our pre-match Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal prediction backed a low-scoring away win, and that is how it played out. For the trip to Germany, see our Bayern vs Arsenal prediction.
What It Means for Nottingham Forest
Forest can take some encouragement from the way they competed, but the result leaves them with just five points from seven games and inside the relegation zone. They have struggled for goals at home this season and once again did not seriously test the opposition goalkeeper. With Morgan Gibbs-White not involved, they lacked a creative spark in the final third.
Forest need points quickly, and their next league fixture is reported to be a trip to Ipswich Town on Friday.
Betting Angle
Arsenal are finding ways to win, but this was a tight, low-scoring contest, and their trip to Bayern could be similar. Under 2.5 goals is an option to consider in their tougher away fixtures, while Forest’s lack of goals at home is worth keeping in mind for their upcoming matches. Check the latest prices on JetBet and our football predictions before you bet.
Club news and the full fixture list are available on the official Arsenal website.
FAQ
Who scored for Arsenal against Nottingham Forest?
Noni Madueke scored the only goal in the 80th minute, after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Where are Arsenal in the Premier League table?
Arsenal are second on 18 points, three behind leaders Manchester City and two ahead of Brighton.
When do Arsenal play Bayern Munich?
Arsenal visit Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday 21 October, with kick-off at 10:00pm EAT.
Are Nottingham Forest in the relegation zone?
Yes. Forest are 18th with five points from their first seven Premier League games.
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