Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal: Gunners in title race after they close gap to leaders Liverpool

 Arsenal's jubilant scenes at the final whistle at the City Ground stood in stark contrast to their previous visit to Nottingham Forest, where defeat marked the end of their season-long Premier League title pursuit.

Back in May, it was Forest who celebrated as Taiwo Awoniyi's goal secured their survival and compounded Arsenal's misery, culminating in a late collapse that crowned Manchester City as champions.

On this occasion, Arsenal's title aspirations were not at stake, yet defeat was unacceptable, especially with Premier League leaders Liverpool set to visit Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Hence, there was an eruption of joy from manager Mikel Arteta, his players, and the traveling fans when the final whistle blew after a frantic five minutes of stoppage time. What seemed like a routine victory turned tense as Awoniyi struck late for Forest.

The night and performance weren't without their stresses. While Forest didn't cause Arsenal serious anxiety until the closing stages, the Gunners appeared lethargic and vulnerable in the first 45 minutes, sleepwalking towards a result that could have marred their season.

Arsenal lacked urgency and penetration in a sluggish opening half, falling prey to Forest's defensive strategy of sitting back and waiting to counterattack.

With too many passes and stodgy attacks, Arsenal may argue they displayed calmness and maturity, but it was evident that they needed to step up their game significantly.

In the second half, Arsenal picked up the pace and received a helping hand, or foot, when former keeper Matt Turner allowed Gabriel Jesus' finish to bounce between his legs and into the near post at 65 minutes.

Bukayo Saka secured Arsenal's second goal, with Gonzalo Montiel being the Forest culprit this time. Despite Awoniyi's goal momentarily threatening an unlikely comeback, Arsenal emerged victorious.

The win was well-deserved and worth celebrating, as this type of potentially tricky fixture can pose challenges during a title pursuit.

A display of passion ensued, highlighted by a heated confrontation between defensive duo Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko after the final whistle, necessitating separation by Arsenal's backroom staff.

Arteta expressed satisfaction at this demonstration, interpreting it as a public display of what this result and the club's pursuit of glory mean to his players.

Arsenal keeper David Raya had little to do against a Forest side that struggled to pose a threat, contextualizing this victory further.

The win narrowed the gap on leaders Liverpool to two points before Jurgen Klopp's side faced Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday, setting the stage for their clash on Sunday in north London.

While labeling the encounter with Liverpool as a "must-win" might be excessive, it is undoubtedly crucial from both a footballing and psychological standpoint to avoid defeat.

Confidence has been bolstered by the 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace and this victory at Forest, setting a positive tone for the upcoming matches.

Arsenal 'lack natural cutting edge'

Arsenal also have unfinished business with Liverpool following their recent 2-0 defeat at home in the FA Cup third-round tie. Despite having numerous opportunities to score, they ultimately succumbed to two late sucker-punches.

While there remains a sense that Arsenal lack a natural cutting edge, there is also much to admire, and they find themselves well positioned in the Premier League title race.

Gabriel Jesus is the striker tasked with shouldering that responsibility, and he delivered in this match, rattling the bar with a fierce strike before capitalizing on Turner's blunder.

Arsenal's defense remained largely untroubled elsewhere, with Forest's cautious game plan making it a relatively straightforward night for their defenders until Awoniyi's return from injury in October, adding a new dimension to the contest.

As we approach the critical junctures of the season's latter stages, Arsenal can rightfully consider themselves in a strong position alongside the league leaders.

Securing victory at the same venue where they suffered a devastating defeat last season is a significant achievement for Arsenal, providing them with momentum ahead of Sunday's monumental clash with Liverpool.