ARSENAL have broken the curse of the City Ground by scraping a 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest.
Goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka earned the Gunners all three points.
And as a result, Mikel Arteta’s men are just two off Premier League leaders Liverpool.
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- Nottingham Forest XI: Turner, Montiel, Omobamidele, Murillo, Toffolo, Mangala, Danilo, Williams, Gibbs-White, Domínguez, Wood
- Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
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Jesus walking on water on River Trent
Gabriel Jesus was awarded the man of the match award this evening.
With a goal and an assist, it was a productive evening for the Brazilian.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping his striker can replicate the performance for many games to come in the remainder of the season.
Wing-wizard’s goal seals victory for Arsenal
Bukayo Saka has been struggling for goals of late and will take great confidence in his strike today.
It was a composed finish which ended up being the difference between the two sides.
The young English winger will be hoping to take that form into the big game against Liverpool on the weekend.
Credit: EPA Credit: Getty Big games come thick and fast
When you are challenging for major silverware, you have no chance to let your guard down.
Arteta himself has admitted that they cannot afford to slip up between now and the end of the season.
Some tricky fixtures lay ahead and The Gunners can ill-afford to drop anymore points.
Arsenal pressure finally pays off
The Gunners bossed the game at the City Ground but struggled to breakdown the hosts.
When Matt Turner’s error gifted the visitors a goal, they took full advantage.
Martin Odegaard constantly made himself available in the final third to link up play and try and create the chances to get the win.
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal
That could prove to be a big win for The Gunners.
It all looked comfortable at two-nil but once Forest got their goal it was very nervous stuff from the visitors.
Fortunately for the travelling fans, Forest could not find that second goal.
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal
The referee brings the game to a close.
Arsenal hold on for the three points.
Forest came so close to a comeback there.
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal
90+6. We are in added time of added time.
Forest are launching balls into the box but unable to make anything of it.
You have to feel time has run out here.
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal
90+4. Big chance for Nottingham Forest.
As Arsenal cannot clear the ball, it is flicked on and Awoniyi is there once again.
He cannto get enough of a connection on the ball and Raya is able to save his effort.
Credit: AFP Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal
90+2. Mikel Arteta is making the changes of a worried man.
Jorginho and Kiwior are coming on for Zinchenko and Odegaard.
Forest have a corner and a chance to try and find an equaliser.
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal
90. Awoniyi outmuscles Saliba to turn and shoot.
VAR is checking a possible offside in the build-up.
Looking at the replay, this would be an incredibly harsh decision as it looks like Zinchenko is palying him on by some distance.
The goal will stand, we could have a grandstand finish with five added minutes.
Goal – Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
88. Nelson looks set to come on for Arsenal.
Arteta with the chance to rest a few players for the weekend.
Forest have offered very little in the final third tonight.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
86. The Forest owner is at the City Ground tonight.
He will not be happy with what he seen this evening.
With a potential points deduction in the offing, it is all very negative on the banks of the River Trent right now.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
84. Saka steals the ball back in the middle of the park.
He takes one touch to get it onto his left foot and looks to shoot from a long way out.
Forest gets players in front of the ball and block the effort.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
82. Trossard has a shot at goal from the edge of the box.
It whistles over the bar but isn’t a million miles away.
Arsenal look in full control of this game now.
Christmas may be over but the Forest gifts tonight have proved a telling factor in this result.
Credit: Getty
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
80. This will be a big result for Mikel Arteta’s side going into their game at the weekend against Liverpool.
Forest need to find a goal to make a game of this in the final stages.
It is not a good evening for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side with Luton Town currently leading 4-0 against Brighton.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
78. Elanga comes on for Forest, Williams the man he is replacing.
Another player the home fans will be happy to see returning from injury.
Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli come off for Trossard and Nketiah.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
76. The away end is in full voice now.
Continuing to sing their own version of ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’.
Something along the lines of ‘we’ve conquered all of Nottingham….’
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
74. You would have to say that Saka’s goal has sealed the points.
It would take some implosion by Arteta’s side to allow Forest back into this game.
The Gunners pass the ball around now, knowing they have a lead to protect.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
72. Another howler from the Forest defence.
Montiel gifts the ball to Arsenal and Odegaard plays in Jesus.
He finds Saka at the back post, who strikes a right-footed shot into the far corner.
Arteta celebrates like that goal was in the last minute of the Champions League final.
Credit: Getty Goal – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal
70. Forest had done so well defensively up until that point.
With the counter-attacking tactics they are playing, you just cannot afford to gift goals to the opposition.
The former Arsenal keeper has had probably his biggest impact for The Gunners since he signed for them in 2022.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal
68. Nuno Espirito Santo will want to address the goalkeeping situation in this January transfer window.
Turner has been culpible for some real howlers this season.
This is another to add to the collection.
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal
66. Terrible goalkeeping by Matt Turner.
The throw in to Jesus sees him run at goal at an impossibly tight angle.
He toe pokes it towards goal and it goes through the legs of the Forest keeper.
Goal – Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
