The Gunners struggled to turn their possession into clear-cut opportunities for much of the Premier League encounter, but Madueke’s decisive effort in the 80th minute proved enough to secure all three points and keep the defending champions within touching distance of league leaders Manchester City.
Arsenal struggle to break down Forest
Arsenal controlled much of the possession during the first half but found it difficult to penetrate a well-organised Nottingham Forest defence.
The hosts remained compact and looked to threaten on the counter-attack, making life uncomfortable for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Forest created opportunities of their own, with Dan Ndoye testing Arsenal’s defensive organisation early in the contest. At the other end, Kai Havertz came close to breaking the deadlock when he met a Declan Rice free-kick, but his header went wide.
Despite enjoying more of the ball, Arsenal went into half-time without registering a shot on target, underlining their lack of attacking precision.
Madueke makes the difference
Arteta introduced Madueke at half-time in an attempt to inject greater urgency and directness into Arsenal’s attacking play.
However, Forest continued to frustrate the visitors after the restart, forcing the Gunners to remain patient as the match moved into its final stages.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute. Madueke received a pass from Rice, cut inside from the left and fired towards goal. His effort took a deflection off Jair Cunha, wrong-footing Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels before finding the net.
The goal rewarded Arsenal’s persistence and gave the visitors a crucial advantage with 10 minutes remaining.
• 80' — Goal, Nottingham Forest 0–1 Arsenal: Noni Madueke.
Forest push for an equaliser
Forest refused to surrender after falling behind and searched for a late response in front of their home supporters.
Chris Wood had an opportunity to restore parity, but Rice produced an important defensive intervention to block his effort.
Murillo also came close to rescuing a point with a forward run and a shot that curled narrowly wide. Arsenal survived the late pressure to preserve their slender lead and complete an important away victory.
For Forest, the defeat was another frustrating result as their search for a breakthrough in front of their home supporters continued.
Arsenal keep pressure on Manchester City
Although Arsenal were far from their fluent best, the result was significant in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
The victory took Arteta’s side to 18 points, leaving them three points behind Manchester City at the time of the match. Arsenal’s ability to secure a win despite their attacking struggles could prove valuable over the course of the season.
Madueke’s contribution also highlighted the importance of squad depth, with the winger making the decisive impact after entering the contest from the bench.
Arsenal will now look to build on the result as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures, while Forest must find a way to convert their promising moments into goals and points.
Match details
• Competition: Premier League
• Date: Sunday, 18 October 2026
• Venue: City Ground, Nottingham
• Full-time result: Nottingham Forest 0–1 Arsenal
• Goal: Noni Madueke 80'
• Arsenal points: 18
• Next challenge: Arsenal return to action seeking to maintain their challenge at the top of the table.