.svg.png){kind=logo}
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted that his side had to fight until the very last second to secure a hard-fought victory against Nottingham Forest in Sunday’s Premier League clash at the City Ground.
Arteta’s team was uncharacteristically below their best and failed to register a single shot on target until Noni Madueke broke the deadlock ten minutes from time.
Read Also:7 FIFA U-17 World Cups Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets Have Missed
Madueke proved to be the match-winner after coming off the bench, cutting in from the left flank in the 80th minute to unleash a powerful, deflected drive past Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
“We had to earn it until the last second. They are a well-coached team and hard to break down. We had to take risks, they are a dangerous team,” Arteta said after the match. “We had to manage the emotional part really well. We stayed focused and the finishers made a huge impact.”
The narrow win comes amid a hectic fixture schedule for the Gunners, which included a Champions League victory over Lille in midweek and a looming European trip to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
Read Also:Boniface Benched, Tella Features As Leverkusen Edge Out Freiburg To Extend Winning Run
With a demanding calendar ahead, Arteta’s ability to rotate his squad and rest key players without losing quality could prove pivotal in the Premier League title race.
“Some of them played three days ago, and some of them will start the next game, and they know that everyone has to be at it,” he added.
