Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest in the 7th round of the Premier League at City Ground on 18/10. The win came after a challenging match where Forest's compact defense frustrated the Gunners for long periods, leading coach Mikel Arteta to describe their setup as a "Christmas tree" in front of the goal.

"We knew it would be difficult to score in the first 20 or 30 minutes", Arteta said after the match. "Forest were extremely well-organized. They set up a Christmas tree in front of the goal, leaving opponents with almost no space to play. To break through such a system, you need precise and clean execution."

According to the Spanish coach, Arsenal had to find ways to create chaos in the opponent's penalty area, through fluid link-up play or set pieces. The visitors had two clear opportunities in the first half but failed to hit the target. "As the match progressed, we had to change our approach, as frustration began to set in when the goal didn't come", the 44-year-old coach added. "But in the end, we found what we needed."

Coach Mikel Arteta (in black) applauds fans after Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the 7th round of the Premier League at City Ground, Nottingham, England on 18/10. *Photo: Reuters*

At City Ground, Arsenal dominated possession with 74% but struggled against Nottingham Forest's compact defense. For most of the match, the "Gunners" failed to generate enough pressure to break through the home side's tight defensive system.

The turning point came in the 80th minute when Noni Madueke drove in from the left wing into the penalty area and fired a right-footed shot. The ball deflected off defender Jair Cunha, changing direction and leaving goalkeeper Sels helpless. This was Arsenal's only shot on target throughout the entire match.

Despite the unconvincing attacking display, Arteta defended his players. He emphasized that Arsenal had won 10 of their 11 official matches since the start of the season, demonstrating their ability to secure positive results in various circumstances. The only exception was a 0-3 defeat at Brighton in the 5th round of the Premier League.

Arteta highly valued the victory at City Ground, as Arsenal had drawn 0-0 in their two previous visits. According to the 44-year-old coach, the key to securing three points was patience against Nottingham Forest's tightly organized defense. In the second half, he instructed his players to increase pressure, take more risks, but maintain tactical discipline to prevent counter-attacks. Arteta believed Nottingham Forest could not maintain their intensity and focus for 90 minutes, so Arsenal would find space if they continuously applied pressure.

Despite taking the lead in the 80th minute, Arsenal still faced tense final moments. Nottingham Forest pushed forward, constantly sending the ball into the penalty area and creating three notable chances in stoppage time. In one dangerous situation, center-back Ezri Konsa made a crucial block against Liam Delap's close-range shot.

Arteta admitted Arsenal faced chaotic moments but was pleased his players maintained composure to preserve the score. "There were two or three truly chaotic situations, especially in the final minutes", he said. "In such tense moments, maintaining composure is very important. It demonstrates the players' character."

Noni Madueke celebrates his goal with Ezri Konsa. *Photo: Reuters*

Beyond patience and character, Arteta particularly highlighted the role of the substitutes. He believed the personnel changes helped the team increase pressure in the opponent's half, create additional attacking options, and ultimately find the decisive goal. Notably, Madueke was the difference-maker, coming on for Eberechi Eze at the start of the second half and scoring the decisive goal, his second of the season.

Arteta praised Madueke for "playing with greater desire, more determination, and showing stronger belief in every action" after not being called up to the England squad by coach Thomas Tuchel during the recent FIFA Days. Beyond his professional ability, the Spanish coach also highly praised Madueke's personality. According to him, the English winger is well-liked by his teammates due to his openness and ability to connect in the changing room.

This week, Arsenal will first visit Bayern Munich in the third round of the Champions League group stage on 21/10, then return to Emirates Stadium to host Everton in the 8th round of the Premier League three days later.

Hong Duy (according to ESPN, Arsenal.com)