Noni Madueke broke the deadlock in a dull game as the champions Arsenal squeezed past Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Forest’s resistance held until 10 minutes from time, when Madueke’s shot clipped Jair Cunha and flew in.
Arsenal struggled to create clear chances for most of the game. Madueke came off the bench at half-time, replacing Eberechi Eze, and scored the winner with a deflected effort after Declan Rice played the ball to him. Here is how the players rated.
Nottingham Forest player ratings
Matz Sels (6): The goalkeeper was untroubled, with Arsenal struggling to create clear chances until Forest’s resistance broke with 10 minutes left.
Murillo (6): He took a blow to the head in the first half that required treatment. He almost grabbed an injury-time leveller after some great skill.
Ousmane Diomande (6): It was only the summer signing’s fourth Premier League start, but he has settled well and looked to be helping Forest to a positive point.
Jair Cunha (6): He has become a dependable member of Oliver Glasner’s side and was unlucky when Madueke’s shot clipped him and flew in.
Neco Williams (6): Booked in the first half, he was unable to threaten from wing-back, and his usual reliable deliveries did not meet his normal standards.
Xaver Schlager (6): The midfielder has slotted in well to the Forest engine room but could not influence the game this time.
Nicolas Dominguez (6): He was neat and tidy in the middle in his first Premier League appearance of the season but naturally ran out of steam.
James McAtee (6): With Morgan Gibbs-White injured, the onus fell on McAtee to be a creative force. He worked hard but could not find that spark.
Daniel Munoz (6): He tested David Raya and tried to get forward, especially in the first half, but more will be needed.
Dan Ndoye (6): The forward shot wide early but offered little end product and could not get the better of Riccardo Calafiori.
Liam Delap (6): He enjoyed the physical battle with Arsenal’s defence and was a nuisance to Ezri Konsa and Gabriel, but did not get close to a goal.
Substitute – Ibrahim Sangare (5): He came on for Dominguez in the 74th minute. He stopped at the crucial moment, allowing Arsenal to regroup and score.
Subs not used: John Victor, Yates, Netz, Milenkovic, Aina.
Arsenal player ratings
David Raya (6): The Gunners number one put in a solid display, including a great take from a corner in the first half.
Ben White (6): He made lots of overlapping runs and was solid defensively, but there was no breakthrough. Timber replaced him.
Ezri Konsa (7): He was involved in the physical battle with Delap. He was part of the back four that kept a clean sheet, mainly thanks to his brilliant injury-time tackle on Delap.
Gabriel Magalhaes (6): He was pressured and tested like his centre-back partner but stood up to the challenge, as he often does.
Riccardo Calafiori (6): A loose pass in the first half ended with a good Forest attack. The fullback made lots of adventurous runs, but none led to a goal.
Declan Rice (7): He brought the powerful running and energy expected from the midfielder, in an Arsenal midfield that struggled to create. He missed a big chance but played the ball to Madueke for the goal.
Bruno Guimaraes (5): It was not the midfielder’s best day, and Merino replaced him.
Martin Odegaard (6): He tried to get on the ball and make things happen but could not find the pass to open the Forest defence.
Bukayo Saka (6): He delivered dangerous crosses into the area but had little room to operate as Forest sat deep.
Eberechi Eze (5): This was a big chance for Eze to make the left wing his own, but he did not take it. He was substituted at half-time.
Kai Havertz (5): Arsenal were poor going forward despite having lots of the ball. Havertz did not offer much and was taken off.
Arsenal substitutes
Noni Madueke (7): He came on in the 46th minute for Eze to add energy and spark to the attack. He scored the winning goal with a deflected effort.
Viktor Gyokeres (6): He replaced Havertz in the 66th minute and worked hard after coming off the bench.
Mikel Merino (6): He replaced Guimaraes in the 66th minute and was tidy and composed in midfield.
Jurrien Timber (6): He replaced White in the 66th minute and provided a cross for a late Rice chance.
Subs not used: Meslier, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Zubimendi, Dowman.
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