Noni Madueke broke the deadlock with a deflected effort in a dull game as Arsenal squeezed past Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 18 October 2026. The champions claimed a crucial victory, and the substitute’s strike proved enough.
Madueke came off the bench at half-time, replacing Eberechi Eze, to add energy and spark to the Arsenal attack. His shot clipped Jair Cunha and flew in, and the goal broke Forest’s resistance with 10 minutes left. Here is how the players rated.
Arsenal player ratings
Noni Madueke (7): He came on in the 46th minute for Eze and scored the winning goal with a deflected effort.
Ezri Konsa (7): He battled physically with Liam Delap. He was part of the back four that kept a clean sheet, mainly thanks to his brilliant injury-time tackle on Delap.
Declan Rice (7): The midfielder brought the powerful running and energy expected of him. He was part of an Arsenal midfield that struggled to create and missed a big chance, but he played the ball to Madueke for the goal.
David Raya (6): The Gunners number one put in a solid display and made a great take from a first-half corner.
Ben White (6): He made lots of overlapping runs and defended solidly, but Arsenal found no breakthrough. Jurrien Timber replaced him.
Gabriel Magalhaes (6): Pressured and tested like his centre back partner, he 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. He made lots of adventurous runs, but none led to a goal.
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.
Viktor Gyokeres (6): He worked hard after coming on for Havertz in the 66th minute.
Mikel Merino (6): He was tidy and composed in midfield after replacing Bruno Guimaraes in the 66th minute.
Jurrien Timber (6): He replaced White in the 66th minute and provided a cross for a late Rice chance.
Bruno Guimaraes (5): It was not the midfielder’s best day, and Merino replaced him.
Eberechi Eze (5): This was a big chance to make the left wing his own, but he did not take it. Arsenal substituted him at half-time.
Kai Havertz (5): Arsenal were poor going forward despite having lots of the ball. Havertz offered little and came off.
Arsenal’s unused substitutes were Meslier, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Zubimendi and Dowman.
Nottingham Forest player ratings
Matz Sels (6): The goalkeeper stayed untroubled, as Arsenal struggled to create clear chances until the breakthrough came 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 equaliser 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 towards a positive point.
Jair Cunha (6): He has become a dependable member of Oliver Glasner’s side. He was unlucky when Madueke’s shot clipped him and flew in.
Neco Williams (6): He picked up a first-half booking and could not threaten from wing-back. His usual reliable deliveries fell below his normal standards.
Xaver Schlager (6): The midfielder has slotted in well in 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 he 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 Forest needed more.
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 he did not get close to a goal.
Ibrahim Sangare (5): He replaced Dominguez in the 74th minute and stopped at the crucial moment, allowing Arsenal to regroup and score.
Forest’s unused substitutes were John Victor, Yates, Netz, Milenkovic and Aina.