Madueke scores only goal as below-par Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest

The top of the Premier League table currently belongs to Manchester City, who have maintained an impressive perfect start to the 2026-27 season. However, their current predicament has some regarding the fairness of their situation, as they are embroiled in a legal battle due to their conviction on 114 counts of rulebreaking. The ongoing legal proceedings, which involve a lengthy process and the involvement of their legal team, have raised concerns about the integrity of the league.

On the other end of the table, Nottingham Forest finds themselves at the very bottom. The team has struggled to find its footing under the guidance of new manager Oliver Glasner, who has only managed 5 points from their first 6 matches in the league (a record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 3 losses). The team has scored 5 goals while conceding 8, highlighting a significant area for improvement in their attacking play.

Their current league position underscores the challenges they face as they prepare for their upcoming match against Arsenal.

Arsenal, the team currently residing just three points behind Manchester City, will be looking to close the gap on the leader. However, they'll be without Piero Hincapie for a few weeks following an injury sustained during a warm-down session last weekend. Martin Zubimendi, who also suffered a minor injury during that session, might be available for selection.

Christos Tzolis is expected to miss the match for another week or two, while William Saliba is working on a return from his extended absence and aims to recover in time for the match.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, will be without their star midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, who has been sidelined with a minor muscle injury. He was only able to join in one training session this week, and manager Oliver Glasner expressed doubt about his availability for the match. Additionally, defender Nicola Savona and striker Igor Jesus will not be participating in the game.

Centerback Nikola Milenkovic, after being absent for several weeks, has recently returned to training but his fitness level remains a concern due to his prolonged absence. The City Ground in Nottingham will host the match on Sunday, October 18th, with kick-off scheduled for 8:30 am PT, 11:30 am ET, or 4:30 pm GMT. Fans can catch the match on Peacock, but it is important to note that sharing or discussing links to unauthorized streams is strictly prohibited.