Arsenal needed 80 minutes to find a way through. The goal was their first shot on target, and it took a big deflection off Jair Cunha’s leg before beating Matz Sels. Madueke got the ball on the left, drove inside and shot from a tight angle. He later explained that he had beaten his man on the outside a few times and decided to go the other way.
It was not a pretty win. Arsenal had roughly 75% of possession but created only about 1.07 expected goals. That sums up the afternoon: all the ball, very little danger. A shot that takes a deflection on its way in can look lucky, but it only arrived because Arsenal kept the pressure on for so long.
- Noni Madueke’s deflected 80th-minute goal, Arsenal’s only shot on target, decided a 1-0 win at the City Ground on 18 October 2026.
- Arsenal moved up to second with 18 points, three behind leaders Manchester City and two ahead of Brighton.
- Arteta’s half-time switch, Madueke on for Eze, changed the game after Arsenal had no shots on target in the first half.
- Arsenal held about 75% of possession but created only 1.07 expected goals, so their attack still needs work against deep defences.
- Forest drop into the bottom three on one win, two draws and four defeats, still without a finisher to match their effort.
Team News And The Shape Of The Game
Both sides were missing players. Forest were without Nikola Milenkovic, Igor Jesus and Nicolo Savona, and Morgan Gibbs-White could not feature. For Arsenal, William Saliba was back in light training but nowhere near a return, while Piero Hincapie and Christos Tzolis stayed out.
Arteta’s midfield choice was one of the main pre-match talking points. He kept Myles Lewis-Skelly on the bench and started Bruno Guimaraes alongside Declan Rice, trading a little possession for more attacking threat.
The first half was a stalemate. Forest stayed compact outside their own half, and neither side had a shot in the first quarter-hour. Arsenal won a string of corners but could not turn them into shots.
Also Read: Manchester City Thrash Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield After Second-Half Show
How Forest Nearly Made It A Draw
Oliver Glasner’s side defended in two compact units and counter-attacked. The best early chances fell to Forest. Dan Ndoye had a shot turned out by David Raya, and Murillo headed the resulting corner wide.
There was plenty of niggle too. Rice cut down Liam Delap outside the box without being booked. Madueke, on as a substitute, picked up Arsenal’s first yellow card early in the second half.
Even after conceding, Forest kept coming. They had three good openings after going behind but couldn’t hit the target. Chris Wood’s 89th-minute chance was blocked by a lunging Rice. The cutting edge was the problem all along: Forest had scored just five goals in their first six league games, and Delap had managed one goal in 350 minutes. Glasner had even asked the veteran Wood to advise the younger forwards, but finishing never arrived.
The Decision That Won It
The tactical turning point came at the break. Arteta pulled Eberechi Eze after 45 minutes, with no shot and no successful dribble, and brought on Madueke. Arteta said Forest’s two defensive units and their two-v-two situations made it hard for Eze to find space, so he changed the profile of the attack.
Later changes added fresh legs. In the 67th minute Merino, Gyokeres and Timber replaced Guimaraes, Havertz and White. Guimaraes had won 10 of 12 duels in his 66 minutes, and Rice finished with 113 touches. Arsenal came close before the goal as well. Timber’s overlapping run set up Rice, who blasted over, and Gabriel’s header from a corner curled just above the bar.
Arteta’s own summary was blunt: “We had to take risks.” Madueke leaned on the champions’ mentality, saying “We showed a champion’s spirit here.” Arteta also pointed to his bench. He said Arsenal’s strength in depth will be key to their title defence.
Also Read: England’s Stunning 7-0 Win Over Croatia Lifts Them to Second Place in Nations League Group A3
What It Means For The Table
Arsenal started the day on 15 points from six games, behind Brighton on goal difference after Brighton’s win over Palace. The win lifts them to 18 points from seven games, ahead of Brighton on 16. City, meanwhile, have won all seven of their league games and sit on 21 points.
Look closer and the picture is mixed. Arsenal have scored 11 and conceded just five in seven league games, while City have scored 19. A clean sheet that keeps the defensive record intact is useful, but City are scoring far more freely.
Forest are in the bottom three. They are on one win, two draws and four defeats, after results for Fulham, Bournemouth and Aston Villa pushed them down.
Why This One Matters
Arsenal are the reigning champions, crowned on 24 May 2026 for the first time in 22 years, and this was the kind of game title-winning sides tend to take. The corresponding fixture last season finished 0-0. Arsenal have 56 wins in the all-time series with Forest, 27 more than Forest have, and Forest have now gone seven meetings without a win.
The only league defeat this term, a 3-0 loss at Brighton in September, felt a long way off by full-time. Still, a single shot on target is not a model to rely on, and the attack needs to be sharper against better opposition.
What’s Next
Arsenal beat Lille in midweek and now face a trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday. After that, they host Everton in the league. Forest travel to Ipswich Town on Friday.
Also Read: Man City Maintain Top Spot After Thrilling Win Over Sunderland
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored in Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal?
Noni Madueke scored the only goal in the 80th minute with a deflected shot.
What was the final score?
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal, at the City Ground on 18 October 2026.
Where are Arsenal in the Premier League table now?
Second, three points behind Manchester City.
Who was Arsenal’s man of the match?
Madueke decided it, but Declan Rice’s control of midfield and his late block on Wood also stood out.
Where are Forest in the table?
In the bottom three, with five points from seven games.
Sources & References
- NBC Sports: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal: Madueke’s deflected goal enough for win
- Goal: ‘We had to take risks’ – Mikel Arteta reflects on Arsenal’s attacking struggles
- NBC Sports: Premier League table for 2026-27 season: Latest standings
- Sports Mole: Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal: Oliver Glasner makes Chris Wood revelation
- Wikipedia: 2025-26 Premier League
