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90+3 min More Murillo! He sends a terrific cross into the channel from behind, inside-left, and Delap is on it, Timber chasing. Barrels into the box and he should shoot, but takes another touch which allows the defender to slide in and block from behind. It’s a little out of place if it goes faster, but it doesn’t happen.
90+2 min Oh my days! On the left, Murillo spotted an opportunity, flicked the ball between Konsa and Timber before bursting onto it and flying into the box. Rice wants to show it outside off, so he leans that way, then the Brazilians run over the ball inside! The shot is open, he tries a curl… and he zooms in on the angle.
90 min We will have three extra minutes.
89 min With Forest in the box, Arsenal go down the left, Madueke’s cross is headed over by Calfiori. But then when Forest counters and Delap wins the toss, Hudson-Odoi puts Hudson-Odoi away by immediately taking it! With Wood in the middle, this is your chance! So Hudson-Odoi pulls his man, then squares, but his mate’s first touch takes him into traffic, he makes it worse by continuing in that direction and his shot is blocked at the source. A great game until the crucial moment, then every move and decision was wrong.
88 min Arsenal played well after scoring, controlling the game by keeping the ball in the Forest half. They win Rice’s free-kick in the box, Murillo goes wide; the throw is short and the ball is held.
86 min I think Hudson-Odoi is a casualty in Glasner’s preferred form, but he’s too good to sit out for 85 minutes. I wonder if he can do something as one of the 10s as he is a better footballer than Ndoye and McAtee and can play well with Gibbs-White in that role.
85 min Two changes for Forest, Hudson-Odoi and Wood for Cunha and McAtee.
84 min Arsenal are wasting time slowing the game down – it seemed impossible given the improbability of what we were watching. The forest must come between them.
82 min Can the forest change its mentality? They will bring on Chris Wood when there is a break in the game, but Arsenal are experts at controlling the back.
PURPOSE! Nottingham Forest – 1 Arsenal (Madueke 80)
Such a goal! Madueke takes the ball slightly inside, not on the touchline where he sits. He runs at Munoz, turns it up to create a shooting angle, and closes it hard for Sels to fish at the near post. When you’re a champion, these are the things you have going for you.
79 min More Arsenal passes, more Forest gaps. I don’t think Artetz wants his men to score any goals from headers or shots.
78 min Forest sit back and Arsenal move the ball around but without zip. Then, when Madeueke’s cross is deflected, Murillo clears his head, Saka’s cross is collected by Sels.
76 min … which Odegaard swings to the nearest forehead. This is a very bad thing.
75 min That Rice chance was Arsenal’s best chance of the entire match and they could still go for it, but as Wenger said, I can’t help but feel the changes were a little unimaginative, as they hit a target they haven’t hit 90 in five years yet. There’s a free kick on the right though…
74 min Changes for Ndoye and Dominguez for Forest, Kalimuendo and Sangare.
72 min Suddenly Arsenal hit the tempo, Saka drew two men and passed between them to Odegaard, who turned into space for the Timbers first time – the kind of triangulation that opens up tight defences. The wood also cuts well, Rice came to the box, but his sweep is too high.
69 min Schlager to Delap, who collects well and bulldozes between Arsenal’s centre-backs. But with a lack of confidence in his pace, he doesn’t slot the ball through and follow it up, instead hitting it from 20 yards, which must be special to go in…
68 min The first of the wood, movement from the corner, Raya comes to the corner and collects it well.
67 min In these changes, I like Timber and Merino, but I’d also go for Lewis-Skelly; the players on the field seem to be hoping that the ball will enter the box for Arsenal to do well.
66 min Before the corner, three changes for Arsenal: Timber, Merino and Gokeres for White, Guimaraes and Havert, then the corner comes and Gabriel heads over the bar.
65 min Arsenal now on the attack, Madueke again winning a corner by keeping wide. I’m not surprised Merino is stripped because he can at least threaten from set-pieces. Meanwhile, McAtee panics when the ball appears to fall to Odegaard with a backhand shot from 20 yards out.
63 min Murillo releases Ndoye who doesn’t have enough pace to get rid of Gabriel. But he gets ahead of him with runners, preferring to check inside, which allows the defender to get right back and block the tackle at the source.
62 min Sels comes in and takes a corner, then Odegaard’s back pass is too strong for Calafiori. I wonder if Arteta could try Dowman as he needs something a little different; I’d pick Lews-Skelly for Rays or Guimaraes because he has the ability to deftly beat people in the middle of the pitch or bounce with power.
61 min Kalafiori finds Madueke, whose low cross is deflected behind. Rice will get a corner because this time it’s from the left.
60 min Raya comes to the corner and collects well, a nice Saka touch moves away from the counter. If Madueke does everyone a favour, he is quick to give up possession.
59 min McAtee’s ball bounces out of the box and eventually goes behind at the other end; The forest builds some territorial pressure.
58 min Williams collects the loose ball and slides upfield, but Guimaraes gets ahead of Dominguez, then Munoz takes a corner from the right. Forest were the better team by this half, if only slightly.
56 min This game and Leeds v Man United was proper 80s fare, bodies everywhere and very little quality or composure. The physicality is a bit different – it’s harder to bully, but the athleticism makes up for it – and the result is a mess. I expected to see more games like this, especially as the best strikers don’t play in England despite the money.
55 minutes…Munoz clears at the near post, then there’s a quick VAR check for handball, doing nothing.
54 min Immediately Saka dives down the other end and takes a corner for Arsenal…
53 min Cunha goes past the midfielder and shouts “Delap!” But there was no joy for Drury as his shot was deflected in for a corner that went nowhere.
53 min Madueke weaves in from the left, shoots…directly to the nearest shin, then runs through Dominguez as he turns to White and lines up.
51 min This game has almost completely lacked quality; In that regard, this season might be the worst I’ve seen.
50 min Forest started the second half well and Delap upended Gabriel on the right, then crossed to nobody.