Arsenal kept their Premier League title quest alive, grinding out a dominant, but hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest to move just two points behind leaders Liverpool.
After last weekend’s 5-0 demolition of Crystal Palace, Mikel Arteta‘s boys delivered another vital three points, proving their mettle against a dogged Forest defence.
Arteta made two tweaks to his winning XI, bringing in Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli for Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard. Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, fresh off a 0-0 FA Cup draw, opted for a defensive masterclass, packing men behind the ball and frustrating Arsenal’s early dominance.
Gabriel Jesus had the first glimpse of goal, volleying just over from close range in the 14th minute, but chances were scarce as the Gunners toiled against a compact Forest wall.
The second half saw a shift in momentum. Nottingham ventured forward more, inviting space for Arsenal to exploit. Jesus came alive, rattling the post from within meters before finally breaking the deadlock in the 65th minute. Zinchenko‘s throw-in found the Brazilian, who coolly tucked the ball through Turner‘s legs from a tight angle. The former Arsenal keeper was right to be angry with himself.
Just seven minutes later, Arsenal were two goals clear. Saka collected Jesus’ precise cross and dispatched a low shot past Turner to send the travelling fans into ecstasy.
However, the drama wasn’t over. As he did at the Emirates earlier in the season, Forest substitute Taiwo Awoniyi pulled one back late on, setting up a nervous finale.
But the Gunners held firm, securing their second consecutive win and closing the gap at the top of the table, even if just temporarily.
This wasn’t the most flamboyant Arsenal performance, but their character and resilience shone through. Jesus led the charge, scoring one and setting up the other, while the Gunners backline weathered the late storm to secure a vital three points. The win keeps them right in the title hunt, breathing down Liverpool’s neck with renewed belief.
After the game, Mikel Arteta said, “I’m really happy with the performance and with the result.
“It was still in our tummy, what happened here last year, and we wanted to put it right.
“We want to generate some momentum now in the league. I think we’ve got that and the performance was very good.
“I thought we completely dominated the game. We had to be patient… we didn’t allow them to run. And we were able to generate chances in various ways, which is really pleasing to see for the team.
“I think we showed a lot of maturity to deal with the game in the way that we had to, but in the last three, four minutes, we conceded a goal – and then you have to suffer in this league.”