3 months ago
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MIKEL ARTETA’S Zen state remains intact, just.
The Spaniard would have been a nervous wreck in that City Ground dug-out, watching on helplessly as his Arsenal side’s title hopes slipped away in Nottingham once again.
GettyLast May, a 1-0 defeat here mathematically handed Manchester City top-spot after a late run-in collapse. More points dropped would have been just as damaging.
And in the same week that Arteta revealed he practiced meditation to avoid feeling the heat in the Gunners hot seat, his boys put his Jedi mind-tricks through the ringer once more.
Thankfully, Gabriel Jesus remained calm in the 65th minute to snatch the lead during a display that will not have eased concerns over Arsenal’s cutting edge or killer instinct.
The perfect goal was desired, but it never came. Instead, it arrived via a throw-in – their Premier League-high 14th set-piece conversion of the season.
The second, and three-point clincher, came via a defensive error and mistake as Bukayo Saka smashed home with some much-needed conviction seven minutes later.
Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi brought some anxiety back into the picture in injury time, scoring just like he did last year, but Arsenal desperately held on.
They simply had to, putting themselves to within two points of leaders Liverpool. Their title chase is very much still alive.
Nuno Espirito Santo spelled it out before kick-off, admitting his Nottingham Forest side have talented players but their main focus should revolve around being compact at all times.
The Nuno mantra; one that was so successful at Wolves but less so at Tottenham, whose fans still have nightmares about his miserable 17-game tenure.
And yet, it did the job in an agonisingly dull first half against an Arsenal team with expectations of hunting down the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool this calendar year.
With Forest beginning the night four points off the drop, you could have been mistaken for thinking Nuno had not even contemplated setting his team up to nick a goal themselves.
Forest were so deep at times that keeper Matt Turner could have stuffed a few of his own defenders, as well as lone striker Chris Wood, up his blue jersey.
Arsenal dictated, dominated and ultimately dithered when they did eventually carve out some half-decent chances.
Emile Smith Rowe – his first Prem start since October – was thrown in to provide some zip and creativity. Declan Rice and Gabriel overcame slight injury concerns to make the XI.
Their presence provided no instant quick-fix to their recent struggles in front of goal.
Even during their 5-0 demolition of Crystal Palace on January 20, two of those goals came from set-pieces, while the other three were from breakaways.
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Arteta’s idea of the perfect goal is clear to see. An intricate, defence-unlocking pass in between the full-back and centre, a cut-back and then a simple tap-in.
Arsenal tried this move to exhaustion throughout the opening 45 minutes, but never was Turner truly worried that one of these NFL-style set plays would bulge his net.
Ben White and Saka orchestrated the first couple, with Martin Odegaard taking too many touches before shooting.
Smith Rowe and Jesus could and should have fired at goal on the opposite flank in similar positions but, again, opted for a pass that killed the move.
Arsenal were strangling Forest, but the hosts were still breathing, quite comfortably – even after two doses of Arteta pep talks from the technical area during pauses in play.
The North London club’s social media team described as a “combative start”. That’s one way to put it.
The visitors’ best chance of the half ironically came from a moment of chaos. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s pass into the box not dealt with and Saka’s scuffed shot blocked by Murillo.
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AFPFrustrations in those questionable visibility coat-coloured jerseys were showing. Jesus picked up an unnecessary yellow for booting the ball into row Z.
Inside the first 30 minutes. Forest had made just one pass inside the final third. Arsenal had made 107 passes. By the 40th minute, there was yet to be a shot on target.
Forest’s confidence grew as Arsenal’s wilted. On came the physical Awoniyi – the deliverer of crushed hearts last year – who gave William Saliba and Gabriel some concerns.
Morgan Gibbs-White was finding space and being electrifying with ball at feet.
It was at this point that those on the pitch for Arsenal took some initiative, gave up trying for the perfect goal and attempted to shoot. Desperate times call for sensible measures.
Saka’s cut-in and deflected effort tested Turner. Jesus then smacked the post from a tight angle after some beautiful build-up play.
Yet their opener was anything but beautiful. A simple quick throw-in from Zinchenko into the feet of Jesus, a drive towards the by-line and a poke through the legs of Turner.
The shackles were off, and Forest’s composure in defence evaporated. Gonzalo Montiel rushed a clearance into Odegaard, who fed Jesus, who fed Saka, who found the bottom corner with a delightful touch and thump.
As Awoniyi bundled in with minutes left after getting the best of Saliba, Arsenal put ten-men behind the ball and gritted their teeth.
Sometimes the old-fashioned ways are the most effective.
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