Madueke’s late winner secures Arsenal’s narrow victory over Forest

Noni Madueke broke the deadlock in a low‑key encounter as Arsenal edged past Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 18 October 2026. The Gunners held a 0‑0 scoreline for most of the match, with Forest’s goalkeeper Xander Sels largely untested as Arsenal struggled to create clear opportunities. Ten minutes from the end, Madueke, who entered at half‑time for Eberechi Eze, produced a deflected strike that slipped past Sels and gave Arsenal the decisive goal.

Forest’s lineup featured a mix of regulars and newcomers. Goalkeeper Xander Sels was solid, while defender Murillo suffered a head knock in the first half that required treatment. Summer signing Ousmane Diomande made his fourth Premier League start and appeared comfortable in defence. Jair Cunha, a reliable presence for Oliver Glasner’s side, was unlucky when Madueke’s shot brushed him before finding the net. Wing‑back Neco Williams received a booking early and was less effective than usual. Midfielders Xaver Schlager and Nicolas Domínguez both showed composure but could not change the outcome. James McAtee, tasked with filling the creative void left by the injured Morgan Gibbs‑White, worked hard but failed to spark. Daniel Muñoz tested David Raya and pushed forward, while Dan Ndoye’s early miss and Liam Delap’s physical presence did not translate into goals. Substitutes Ibrahim Sangaré, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Chris Wood, and Callum Hudson‑Odoi all entered the game, but Forest could not overturn the deficit.

Arsenal’s starting eleven saw David Raya deliver a confident corner catch in the first half. Ben White contributed overlapping runs and defensive stability before being replaced by Jurrien Timber. Centre‑back Ezri Konsa was involved in a physical duel with Delap and made a crucial injury‑time tackle that helped preserve the clean sheet. Gabriel Magalhães handled pressure from Forest’s attackers with his usual composure. Full‑back Riccardo Calafiori made adventurous runs but produced a loose pass that led to a Forest attack. Declan Rice’s powerful runs and energy were evident, though the midfield struggled to create chances; he missed a big opportunity before laying the ball to Madueke for the winner. Bruno Guimarães had an off day and was swapped for Mikel Merino. Martin Ødegaard tried to unlock the defence but could not find the decisive pass. Bukayo Saka supplied dangerous crosses, while Eze failed to make an impact on the left wing and was substituted at the break. Kai Havertz was ineffective in attack and also left the field at half‑time. Substitutes Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, Mikel Merino, and Jurrien Timber all contributed, with Madueke’s goal sealing the three points.

Player of the match was awarded to Noni Madueke, who earned an average rating of 6.53 from BBC Sport users. The full rating breakdown was as follows:

**Nottingham Forest:** Murillo 6.37, Liam Delap 6.19, Neco Williams 6.14, Xander Sels 6.02, James McAtee 5.93, Dan Ndoye 5.87, Ousmane Diomande 5.83, Jair Cunha 5.76, Xaver Schlager 5.75, Nicolas Domínguez 5.70, Callum Hudson‑Odoi 5.65, Daniel Muñoz 5.60, Arnaud Kalimuendo 5.19, Ibrahim Sangaré 5.14, Chris Wood 4.93.

**Arsenal:** Noni Madueke 6.53, Ezri Konsa 6.26, David Raya 6.25, Declan Rice 6.03, Jurrien Timber 6.02, Gabriel Magalhães 5.99, Mikel Merino 5.86, Martin Ødegaard 5.75, Riccardo Calafiori 5.73, Viktor Gyökeres 5.70, Bruno Guimarães 5.47, Ben White 5.43, Bukayo Saka 5.43, Kai Havertz 5.06, Eberechi Eze 4.96.

The win moves Arsenal closer to the top of the Premier League table, while Forest remain in the hunt for points in a challenging season.