Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, marking their tenth win out of eleven matches this season. Manager Mikel Arteta emphasized this statistic in his post-match comments, although the quality of the performances raises concerns.

Despite the victory, Arsenal has struggled to find their rhythm, failing to score in the first half for the past six games. In this match, they dominated possession at 74% but managed only three shots, none on target, while Forest had five attempts.

Key players struggled to make an impact:

• Kai Havertz missed two decent chances before being substituted by Viktor Gyokeres.
• Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka were ineffective on the flanks, lacking creativity.
• Declan Rice played cautiously, and the midfield duo of Martin Odegaard and Bruno Guimaraes failed to break through Forest’s defense.

Arsenal’s passing was meticulous but lacked urgency, finishing the first half with 331 passes at a 91% completion rate. The team faced similar defensive setups in the past, but their inability to adapt raises questions about their attacking strategies.

The breakthrough came late in the game when Noni Madueke’s deflected strike found the net. Arteta's substitutions, including World-Cup winner Mikel Merino, proved pivotal, showcasing the depth of Arsenal’s squad.

Despite the win, doubts linger about Arsenal's ability to assert dominance in matches, especially when compared to their competitors. With a strong defense and a solid position in the league, the question remains: can they elevate their game as the season progresses?