The Gunners struggled to break down Forest for much of the encounter, failing to register a shot on target until the 80th minute. However, Madueke made the decisive contribution after coming off the bench, turning Declan Rice’s pass into the winning goal with an effort that took a deflection on its way into the net.
The narrow victory lifted Arsenal to 18 points, keeping them six points behind leaders Manchester City, who maintained their perfect start to the league campaign with a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City’s seventh consecutive victory took their tally to 21 points, strengthening their position at the top of the standings and leaving Arsenal with little room for error in the early title race.
Despite their difficult outing against Forest, Arsenal found a way to secure all three points, with Madueke’s late intervention proving crucial in avoiding a frustrating draw.
The Gunners will now turn their attention to their next Premier League fixture against Everton, hoping to build on the hard-earned win and maintain pressure on City as the campaign progresses.