Noni Madueke broke the deadlock in a dull game as Arsenal squeezed past Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The champions claimed a crucial victory, and Madueke’s deflected effort proved enough. 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 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): Booked in the first half, he failed to threaten from wing-back, and his usual reliable deliveries fell below their normal standard.
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 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 from him.
Dan Ndoye (6): The forward shot wide early but offered little end product. He 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.
Substitute – Ibrahim Sangare (5), on 74 for Dominguez: He stopped at the crucial moment, allowing Arsenal to regroup and score.
Substitutes not used: John Victor, Yates, Netz, Milenkovic, Aina.
Arsenal player ratings
David Raya (6): A solid display from the Gunners number one, including a great take from a first-half corner.
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. He made lots of adventurous runs, but they did not lead to a goal.
Declan Rice (7): He brought the powerful running and energy expected of him, in an Arsenal midfield that struggled to create. He missed a big chance but played the ball to Madueke for his 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 found 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 offered little and was taken off.
Arsenal substitutes
Noni Madueke (7), on 46 for Eze: He came off the bench to add energy and spark to the attack, and he scored the winning goal with a deflected effort.
Viktor Gyokeres (6), on 66 for Havertz: He worked hard after coming off the bench.
Mikel Merino (6), on 66 for Guimaraes: He was tidy and composed in midfield.
Jurrien Timber (6), on 66 for White: He provided a cross for a late Rice chance.
Substitutes not used: Meslier, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Zubimendi, Dowman.