Arsenal left it very late at the City Ground on Sunday 18 October 2026. A deflected effort from Noni Madueke ten minutes from time gave the champions a 1 to 0 win. It was not pretty, but it was worth three big points in the Premier League race.
For South African fans who stayed up or caught the highlights, here is a simple and easy breakdown of what happened, who played well and what it means for the epl table.
A scrappy first half with nothing on target
If you looked for nottm forest vs arsenal on the day, you probably expected a tight game. That is exactly what you got. The home side sat deep and made life hard for the visitors. Neither team managed a single shot on target before half time.
Arsenal had most of the ball. They finished the match with around 74% possession. Even so, they struggled to turn it into real chances. Their attacks kept going down the right side, where Bukayo Saka was the main threat. Forest read this well and kept doubling up on him.
Forest were also missing key players. Morgan Gibbs White and Igor Jesus were both out. That took away some of the hosts’ creativity, but their coach Oliver Glasner still set up a very stubborn defensive block.
The only real moments before the break were small ones. A Saka cross forced Matz Sels to claw the ball away from under his bar. At the other end, Dan Ndoye tested David Raya with a shot from a wide position. That was about it.
Arteta makes the change that decides the game
Mikel Arteta saw the problem. Arsenal were predictable and slow. At half time he took off Eberechi Eze, who had a quiet game against his former manager, and sent on Madueke.
It was an easy decision in hindsight. Madueke plays with direct, simple football. He takes the ball, runs at defenders and shoots. That was the one thing Forest had not yet faced from the left side.
Forest actually started the second half well. They looked sharper on the counter attack, and striker Liam Delap gave the Arsenal defenders plenty of work. Gabriel and Ezri Konsa stayed calm and dealt with it.
The goal that won it
In the 80th minute, Madueke picked up the ball on the left. He cut inside and hit a hard, low shot. The ball took a heavy deflection off Jair Cunha and flew past Sels. The assist went to captain Declan Rice.
It was Arsenal’s first and only shot on target in the entire match. After the game, Madueke said the City Ground is a hard place to win and that he was just glad the ball went in.
Forest did not give up. In the closing minutes, Delap and Chris Wood both had chances to level, but Arsenal’s recovery defending kept them out. Rice also made a key block late on.
Nottingham forest vs arsenal f.c. stats: the numbers that matter
The nottingham forest vs arsenal f.c. stats tell a strange story. Arsenal dominated the ball but created very little. Forest had more shots but did not have many clear chances.
| Stat | Forest | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 26% | 74% |
| Total shots | 14 | 9 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 1 |
| Pass accuracy | 69% | 90% |
| Fouls | 14 | 8 |
| Corners | 8 | 6 |
These figures come from match data published by FotMob. The key number is the last one on target. Arsenal needed only one shot to win.
Another detail stands out. Arsenal have scored just three first half goals in the league this season. Slow starts are becoming a habit. Arteta will want that fixed before bigger games arrive.
Player ratings: who impressed and who struggled
Here are our ratings out of 10. They are based on the match action and reported performances, and we have kept them simple.
| Player | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| David Raya | 7.5 | Quiet day, but safe on everything. |
| Ben White | 6.5 | Little help in attack on the right. |
| Ezri Konsa | 7.5 | Handled Delap well one on one. |
| Gabriel | 8 | Strong, focused and very calm in transition. |
| Riccardo Calafiori | 7 | Solid, but got little space going forward. |
| Declan Rice | 8 | Good passing, a late block and the assist. |
| Bruno Guimarães | 7.5 | Neat in midfield, but still adjusting to the team. |
| Bukayo Saka | 7 | Carried too much of the attack early on. |
| Martin Ødegaard | 7 | Closely marked, found little room. |
| Eberechi Eze | 6 | Barely involved before being replaced. |
| Kai Havertz | 6.5 | Worked hard, but offered little in the box. |
| Noni Madueke | 8 | Changed the game and scored the winner. |
| Jurriën Timber | 6.5 | Gave the right side more energy. |
| Mikel Merino | 6.5 | Tidy and calm in a deeper role. |
| Viktor Gyökeres | 6 | A few useful runs, nothing more. |
Man of the match: Madueke. He came off the bench and did what the starters could not.
Biggest worry: The forward line. Arsenal were not clinical, and fans are asking whether the squad needs another attacker in January.
What it means for the Premier League table
If you searched for nottingham forest vs arsenal f.c. standings, here is the easy answer. The win lifted Arsenal to 18 points. They moved back into second place, three points behind leaders Manchester City.
For Nottingham Forest, the result was painful. The defeat dropped them into the relegation zone. Glasner’s team defended well, but they are still looking for the wins that will lift them up the epl table.
Before this round of games, the table looked tight in the middle. Leeds were sitting around sixth with nine points, and man utd were around twelfth with six points, as shown in the table published on 11 October. Clubs like leeds and man u know that a couple of wins can move them up quickly, and a couple of losses can pull them down just as fast.
For a live and official view of the epl table, you can check the Premier League website. It is the simple way to see the latest points and goal difference.
Arsenal fixtures: what comes next
Next up, arsenal fc must turn their attention to Europe. They face Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek, a huge test with Harry Kane in the opposition. After that, the league schedule continues, and the full list of arsenal fixtures is easy to find on the club’s official website.
Many South African supporters follow arsenal f.c. on late evening kick offs, so it helps to check the times in advance. The club has also been named as arsenal f.c in many local fan groups and news pages. Whatever you call them, the Gunners are among the main title contenders again this season.
Why this result matters
Winning ugly is part of being a champion team. Arsenal did not play well. They did not create much. But they stayed patient, trusted their defence and found a moment of quality.
That is the kind of win that can matter at the end of the season. Three points at a tough ground is a point won in the title race, even if it does not look good on a highlights reel.
There are still questions. Why do Arsenal start games so slowly? Can Eze find his best form? Does the squad need more firepower in the winter window? Arteta will have answers to find before Bayern arrive.
For Forest, there are reasons to stay positive. They matched Arsenal for long stretches, had more shots, and will get key players back. If they can turn that effort into goals, the table will look better soon.
Final word
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal was never going to be a classic, but it gave us a late twist. Noni Madueke was the hero, Gabriel and Rice were rocks, and Arsenal showed the grit that champions need.
Keep an eye on the next round of fixtures and the Premier League standings. Things change quickly, and every point counts.
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