Arsenal clinched a 1-0 victory at the City Ground courtesy of a late deflected goal from Noni Madueke after he was introduced at half-time, sealing three points.

The win keeps Arsenal in second place and within striking distance of Manchester City as the title race begins to emerge.

Mikel Arteta praised Madueke as a special character, highlighting his leadership, connection with teammates, and growing decisiveness on the field.

Ezri Konsa stepped in for William Saliba and delivered a disciplined display, helping to stabilise Arsenal’s defence and facilitate smooth transitions.

Eberechi Eze and Kai Havertz struggled for impact, with Eze withdrawn at half-time and Havertz miscuing a header before the break.

Gabriel Magalhães was involved in a controversial shirt-pull incident in the penalty area that did not yield a on-field or VAR decision.

Aside from Madueke, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Timber, and Murillo were noted as contributors, with lineups largely described rather than detailed.

Jurrien Timber started on the bench due to squad depth and return from injury, with Ben White starting at left-back as Timber is managed for a likely key upcoming clash.

Gabriel Magalhães earned an 8 rating for composed defending and near-scoring involvement in the absence of Saliba.

David Raya was highly active in organizing the defence, making crucial saves and crosses to help Arsenal maintain the shutout.

Bukayo Saka showed moments of quality with dribbling and set-pieces but faded somewhat in the second half.

Midfielders like Mikel Merino, Ben White, and Guimarães contributed defensively and with tenacity, though no standout attacking moments emerged.