ISAAN KHAN: Arsenal have to address unsustainable trend and underlying deficiency

Pass, pass and pass them to submission.

Arsenal had enjoyed over 70 per cent of possession in the first period but, bar a Kai Havertz effort at Matt Sels’ near post, barely created a chance.

They improved in the second half. Yet for a team of reigning champions, more is expected, particularly against a Nottingham Forest side who were on a two-match losing streak; make it three now.

The comfort of an Arsenal bench worth in excess of £300million helps of course, these riches once again prising a match open.

Bruno Guimaraes did so against Leeds, coming on to score after a poor first hour for the Gunners. The three substitutions of Bukayo Saka, Havertz and Martin Odegaard against Lille cut Arsenal loose midweek in the Champions League, 3-0 the final scoreline.

Here against Forest, Noni Madueke replaced Eberechi Eze at half-time, before Viktor Gyokeres, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber entered the fray on 66 minutes.

The strength of Mikel Arteta’s bench is well documented, their second XI arguably strong enough to compete for a top-four spot.

It’s Arsenal’s recent style of play which results have masked, an underlying deficiency defying the 10 victories of their 11 matches across all competitions.

Madueke’s match-winning strike on 80 minutes was Arsenal’s first — and only — shot on target in the match. The last time Arteta’s side failed to register a shot on target within the first 70 minutes of a fixture dates back to October 2023.

It ties into their goalscoring patterns more generally, unable to score in the first half for a sixth consecutive game. This isn’t sustainable, no matter the talent or depth on offer. Afterwards when asked if he had any concerns over Arsenal’s inability to score earlier in matches, Arteta’s response was telling.

‘We knew today we wouldn't score in the first 20-30 minutes,’ he said.

’We were going to face a different Forest because they're extremely well covered. They put a Christmas tree (3-4-1-2) there. There's no space to play.’We didn't even hit the target, which is the difference. I had the belief that the moment the physical level was going to drop, the spaces would be a little bit bigger. And then we have to suffer.’

A Christmas tree-style defence or not, the Spaniard’s words glossed over Arsenal’s inability to create chances.

Forest, like many teams when facing the Gunners, settled to ceding possession and soaking up the pressure. They played well for large swathes, spearheaded by Liam Delap who charged around and caused both Gabriel and Ezri Konsa plenty of problems.

His physicality pinned back the centre backs, as he kept looking to make those bulldozing runs straight through the backline.

Going back to Arteta’s words, he banked on Forest getting tired and his players subsequently making the opposition pay. It worked, Madueke’s shot deflecting in on off a Forest player. Still, Arsenal are capable of so much more.

They have the talents to dominate games both in possession — and score more goals.

In fairness, a 1-0 victory is the same value of a wider scoreline. It’s the need to strike earlier in matches, preferably in the first half, which Arteta’s men must address sooner rather than later.

Otherwise, stronger opposition will be less forgiving.

Big weeks ahead for Eze

It’s not the first time Eze has been Arteta’s fall guy.

Rewind back to Aston Villa away in December 2025. The England man had lost Matty Cash in the build-up to Villa’s opening goal.

A lack of tracking back by any frontline player is a cardinal sin under Arteta. Eze didn’t have a great half on that night, mind, though the infringement was enough to send him to the bench.

Eze played the next game against Wolves before having to wait two months for his next league start against Brentford in February.

The attacker has fallen down the pecking order of late, to Madueke and Christos Tzolis, making Forest away so crucial for him.

With Tzolis injured, Eze started on the left wing for his first league start of the season — before being substituted at half-time, mirroring the forward’s exit at Villa.

One of his last actions before being hooked off this time saw Eze pass the ball out near the corner flag. Before that, he just couldn’t get going, losing the ball a few times to Arteta’s clear frustration on the touchline.

A lack of confidence in general could be sensed as he tried to work the ball forward. It shouldn’t be a surprise owing to his circumstances.

This was Eze’s first league start of the season, a chance presented from Tzolis’ injury and Madueke sitting on the bench after an indifferent start to the campaign.

The pressure of needing to perform, knowing another league start maybe otherwise be far away, is psychologically challenging to say the least.

The burden is real for a player who will likely feel aggrieved at being the only Arsenal player to come off at the break, in arguably a telling statement by Arteta.

How the Spaniard manages him in these coming weeks will be crucial for the prospects of a man who possesses much talent but is in dire need of an arm around the shoulder.

The opposite could well be detrimental.