Or, more precisely, whether either team could stop firing them at the City Ground. It was a detail to make Oliver Glasner extremely uncomfortable that his Nottingham Forest team had still to score at their own stadium this season. Arsenal, meanwhile, had drawn 0-0 on their previous two visits to this part of the east Midlands.
They had only one win in five here. Forest’s frustrations under their new manager go on. It was another spirited performance from them, bits to like, especially a full-throttle performance from Liam Delap in the No 9 position.
But, for the fifth time under Glasner, there was not a goal to celebrate in front of the home support. It was a game that came to feel increasingly set up for the famous terrace chant. One-nil to the Ars-en-nal.
Or, as the travelling hordes would have it, one-nil to the champions. Arsenal did not play well. They created little, finishing with just one shot on target.
How Noni Madueke made it count. On as a half-time substitute, the winger took a pass from Declan Rice in the 80th minute and had only one thing on his mind. To cut inside from the left and unload.
The connection was pure and that was when he caught a break, which he has worked to earn after a difficult start to the season. The ball deflected off Jair Cunha and flew past the Forest goalkeeper, Matz Sels. Forest refused to accept the inevitable.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
