Mikel Arteta has identified a concern Arsenal must address before facing Bayern Munich after the Gunners needed an 80th-minute goal from Noni Madueke to secure a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. This comes after a frustrating attacking display at the City Ground, where Arsenal struggled to break down Forest’s organised defence. Madueke eventually delivered the decisive moment, but his deflected strike was also Arsenal’s first shot on target of the match.
The result keeps Arsenal in pursuit of Premier League leaders Manchester City, but the performance raises a question ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Bayern. Can Arteta’s side create and convert enough chances against stronger opposition?
Arsenal had to remain patient against a Forest side that defended in an organised shape and grew in confidence as the match progressed. Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of the contest when speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle.
“We knew the margins would be really small. They are extremely well coached and organised,” he said “The longer the game goes on they gain more belief. We had to be so patient – and clinical when we got the chance.”
The Arsenal manager also pointed to the opportunities his team failed to convert.
“We have another three big chances that should be goals. That is the difference, you have to be clinical. If we keep generating them, they will come.”
Those comments raise an important distinction. Arsenal’s lack of a shot on target before Madueke scored suggests they struggled to turn possession into threatening attempts. However, Arteta’s reference to three additional big chances indicates that he believes the team could have made more of the opportunities it did create.
The issue, therefore, is not simply whether Arsenal can score. They must also find ways to generate dangerous opportunities earlier in matches, rather than relying on late interventions.
Arsenal travel to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, October 21, for a Champions League league-phase meeting with Bayern Munich. The fixture will test whether Arteta’s side can produce a more convincing attacking performance against elite opposition. UEFA
Against Forest, Arsenal found it difficult to establish attacking rhythm for long periods. Their possession did not consistently create clear openings, while the home side became more confident as the game remained goalless.
Bayern present a different challenge. Arsenal will need to move the ball quickly, create space between the opposition’s defensive lines and make better use of the wide areas. Slow circulation could allow Bayern to organise defensively, while careless possession could leave Arsenal vulnerable to counterattacks.
Arteta believes his squad has the variety to adapt to different opponents.
“The way they were defending, they were more comfortable. But we have players with different qualities and can adapt to what the game is delivering,” he explained.
That flexibility will be important in Munich. Arsenal cannot assume that the same approach will work against every opponent, particularly if Bayern prevent them from establishing control in the final third.
Madueke’s decisive contribution could strengthen his case for greater involvement in Arsenal’s upcoming matches. The winger replaced Eberechi Eze at half-time and eventually broke Forest’s resistance with a deflected strike in the 80th minute. His introduction gave Arsenal another attacking option and helped turn a difficult afternoon into three points. His impact does not automatically guarantee a starting place against Bayern, but it gives Arteta another selection decision to consider.
Arsenal need players capable of creating something when opponents restrict space. Madueke’s willingness to attack defenders and attempt shots can offer a different dimension, especially when the team struggles to create openings through patient build-up.
Arteta must now decide whether Madueke’s impact is best used from the start or as an option to change the game later. Either way, his performance has reinforced the importance of Arsenal’s attacking depth during a demanding run of fixtures.
Despite the attacking concerns, Arteta was keen to recognise the difficulty of the victory.
“Let’s enjoy the win, because it was a very tough one,” he said.
The manager then turned his attention to Wednesday’s meeting with Bayern, describing it as “an incredible game.”
There are reasons for Arsenal to take confidence from the Forest result. They remained patient, maintained their defensive resilience, and found a way to win when the match appeared destined to remain goalless. However, the performance also showed why Arsenal cannot rely on late goals every week. Against Bayern, failing to register a shot on target for most of the match would leave little margin for error.
The challenge is to preserve the resilience that secured the win while improving the quality and frequency of their attacking threat.
Arteta’s comments after the Forest victory reveal the balance Arsenal must strike before their Champions League trip. Patience and resilience helped them secure three points, but the lack of attacking fluency remains a concern. Madueke’s late goal solved the immediate problem. It did not eliminate the need for Arsenal to create more dangerous opportunities and finish them consistently.
Wednesday’s trip to Bayern Munich will provide a tougher test of those qualities. If Arsenal can improve their attacking rhythm while maintaining their defensive discipline, they will give themselves a stronger chance of getting a positive result.
For Arteta, the priority is clear: turn control into genuine attacking threat before Bayern make Arsenal pay for another slow start.
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