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place
- City land
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referee
- Michael Oliver
Ara Madueke 80′
arsenal this evening he is back in second place in the Premier League, and three points behind leader Manchester Cityafter Noni Madueke’s late strike earned them victory at Nottingham Forest.
The champions were well short of their best and Madueke’s shot, which clipped Jair Cunha on the way in, was their first on target, arriving with 10 minutes to go.
Arsenal are seen skipping Brighton, who thrashed Crystal Palace earlier in the day, although boss Mikel Arteta will know his side will need to perform much better than that if they are to retain the title.
Madueke was a half-time substitute for the ineffective Eberechi Eze in what proved a shrewd move by Arteta. The ex-Chelsea winger has his critics, but he showed a willingness to get at his defender that Arsenal’s other attacking players lacked.
The defeat was tough for Forest, who had restricted Arsenal to very few chances, but remain in the relegation zone.
Gibbs-White’s absence boosts Arsenal
The hosts suffered a blow before kick-off when key midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White was confirmed to be ruled out through injury. They still created the first half chance with Dan Ndoye firing a shot wide after 20 minutes.
Arsenal responded by almost taking the lead from a corner seven minutes later. Forest couldn’t clear Bukayo Saka’s right-wing drive, allowing Gabriel to attempt an audacious backheel that appeared to head before hitting fellow defender Ezri Konsa and Forest getting the ball clear.
Arsenal had another chance seven minutes before the break. Saka won a free-kick with a stunning dive with minimal contact from Xaver Schlager and Declan Rice’s delivery was headed by Kai Havertz when he arguably should have done better.
Havertz then fired into the side-netting from a tight angle as Arsenal piled on the pressure near half-time.
Forest started the second period on top without really testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal.
James McAtee sent a free-kick well over the bar from 20 yards before Liam Delap’s shot was deflected by Gabriel.
Subs make the difference as Arsenal win it late on
With Arsenal failing to register a shot on target in the opening hour, Arteta had seen enough and introduced Mikel Merino, Jurrien Timber and Viktor Gyokeres in a bid to spark his side into life.
It worked to an extent as Arsenal began to see more of the ball in midfield.
They were still struggling to create meaningful chances, however. Gabriel headed a Rice corner over the bar before the England midfielder wasted the Gunners’ best chance in the 73rd minute. Lovely interplay between Saka and Martin Odegaard allowed the Timbers to break free down the right. He pulled the ball back for Rice, but it shot wastefully over.
Madueke did much better seven minutes later after cutting in from the left, although Cunha can be considered unlucky.
Forest wasted two excellent chances to equalize in stoppage time, the first when a brilliant piece of skill from centre-half Murillo saw him beat two Arsenal defenders before curling a shot inches over the crossbar.
And then a stunning save from Ezri Konsa denied Delap as the former Chelsea striker went clear.
But Arsenal held on to maintain their title challenge and leave Forest, and boss Oliver Glasner, looking over their shoulders.
