NOTTINGHAM — Noni Madueke came off the bench at half-time to score the winner as Arsenal squeezed past Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, breaking the deadlock with 10 minutes left in a dull encounter to claim a crucial victory as champions.
The substitute, introduced for Eberechi Eze at the interval to add energy and spark, struck with a deflected effort that clipped Jair Cunha and flew in, with Declan Rice providing the assist after earlier missing a big chance himself. Forest had held firm until late, with goalkeeper Matz Sels largely untroubled as Arsenal struggled to create clear chances.
In the BBC Sport player ratings, Madueke, Rice and Ezri Konsa led the way with 7s for Arsenal. Konsa was singled out for a brilliant injury-time tackle on Liam Delap to preserve the clean sheet alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, while Rice offered powerful running and energy in a midfield that otherwise struggled to create. Madueke's impact off the bench proved decisive.
For Forest, Murillo — who required treatment after a blow to the head in the first half — almost grabbed an injury-time leveller following great skill, while Delap enjoyed the physical battle with Arsenal's defence and tested the back four throughout. Summer signing Ousmane Diomande, making only his fourth Premier League start, helped Forest towards what looked a positive point, and Nicolas Dominguez was neat and tidy on his first Premier League appearance of the season before being replaced by Ibrahim Sangare on 74 minutes.
Eze endured a disappointing outing on the left wing and was withdrawn at half-time, while Kai Havertz and Bruno Guimaraes were also taken off, with Viktor Gyokeres, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber all introduced on 66 minutes. James McAtee shouldered creative responsibility in the absence of the injured Morgan Gibbs-White but could not find the spark for Oliver Glasner's side, with Forest ultimately unable to hold on for a point.