Arsenal vs Nottm forest: The success of Arsenal’s pursuit for the Premier League title heavily relies on the performance of their forward players.
Tuesday’s victory over Nottingham Forest highlighted the crucial importance of fine margins in Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title. Despite the clamor for an attacking addition during the January transfer window, the Gunners are likely to navigate through without making any significant signings. This decision is not only influenced by financial constraints but also by the belief that the current squad has the capability to achieve success.
In contrast to last year, when Arsenal sought more affordable alternatives due to budget limitations, manager Mikel Arteta has opted to place his trust in the existing forwards. With leading targets like Ivan Toney from Brentford and Pedro Neto from Wolves considered unattainable, Arteta believes his current attacking options are capable of surpassing both Liverpool and Manchester City to claim the top spot in the league table.
Another factor influencing this decision is the potential disruption to the existing cohesion caused by an imperfect addition. Arsenal’s attacking strategies have been well-established, and they consistently demonstrated their familiar approach during long periods of the game. They dominated possession to such an extent that they had 81% of the ball in the first half. However, despite this dominance, they failed to register a single shot on target. The closest they came to scoring was two minutes before halftime when Murillo accidentally deflected Bukayo Saka’s close-range effort wide of goalkeeper Matt Turner’s right-hand post.
After convincingly defeating Crystal Palace 5-0 in their previous match, there were concerns that Arsenal might revert to a troublesome pattern that had contributed to a run of one win in seven games before and after Christmas. This poor form had led to calls for reinforcements in the squad. Nevertheless, Arteta’s unwavering belief in his team and their style of play eventually paid off.
Gabriel Jesus capitalized on Forest’s momentary loss of focus, swiftly maneuvering behind the defense after Oleksandr Zinchenko’s throw-in in the 65th minute, and skillfully finished past Turner from a difficult angle. Just seven minutes later, Gonzalo Montiel’s mistake presented Arsenal with an opportunity, and they swiftly launched a counter-attack.
Saka received Jesus’ clever pass and confidently struck the ball into the net for their second goal. The fact that both goals originated from a throw-in and a counter-attack, rather than the intricately crafted avenues they had been pursuing throughout the match, highlights their ability to adapt, which will be crucial in the upcoming months.
Arteta expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We demonstrated great composure by not allowing them to dominate and we successfully created opportunities using different strategies. It was pleasing to witness our maturity in controlling the game as required.”
The City Ground served as a reminder of the significance of this match in determining the outcome of a title race. Arsenal’s previous defeat at this venue against City last season added an extra level of motivation for the players as they returned to the Midlands.
Arteta expressed, “The events of the previous year still lingered within us, leaving a lasting impact. We were determined to rectify the situation. I could sense that the topic was being discussed among the team members.
“Stepping into that dressing room serves as a powerful reminder. Our minds and bodies possess remarkable capabilities, and when faced with similar circumstances, they become highly engaged. The players were genuinely committed and engaged in conversations about it. I believe the team performed exceptionally well.”
Despite a late wobble, Taiwo Awoniyi managed to maintain his impressive record against Arsenal, scoring his third goal in three games with an 89th-minute strike that demonstrated his strength and composure in the penalty area. Awoniyi came on as a substitute at half-time for Chris Wood, whose lack of speed allowed Arsenal to press high up the pitch, restricting Nottingham Forest to their own half and defensive third for extended periods. This Nigerian forward, who hadn’t played for his club since November 12, brought a new attacking dimension to the home side and came close to securing an undeserved point in stoppage time.
Emile Smith Rowe was given his second league start of the season in order to exploit the available spaces for Arsenal. However, it was Jesus who had the opportunity to open the scoring, but unfortunately, he hit the post from six yards out in the 57th minute when it appeared easier to score. Jesus displayed great link-up play throughout the match and was rewarded with a goal and an assist. Nevertheless, there remains a lingering sense that his wastefulness could have been capitalized on by a stronger and more determined opponent than Forest.
Arteta’s perspective differs as he is even more inspired by Jesus’ determination to overcome knee fluid and play for 78 minutes in this match. According to Arteta, “Gabi started influencing the game two days ago. Despite his knee problem, everyone advised him to stay indoors and not risk it. However, he insisted on being present, stating [matchday] -2, [matchday] -1, I want to be there and contribute to the team’s victory. Such a mindset guarantees positive outcomes. I am genuinely delighted with his performance.”
The character Arteta desired was expressed in a different manner, as he later claimed when he had to step in between Zinchenko and Ben White after the game. It seemed that he was upset about conceding a goal that put the three points, which had seemed secure, in jeopardy.
“I find it admirable,” he remarked. “They are pushing each other to do better. They are dissatisfied with how they conceded and are attempting to resolve the issue. Things got a little heated. However, this indicates that it’s enough. When we play the way we did, the outcome should be more significant, and we should maintain a clean sheet.”
This disagreement could be seen as another acknowledgement of the precarious nature of a title race.