Madueke breaks Nottingham Forest’s resistance as dogged Arsenal edge to victory

The theme before kick-off was blanks. 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.