A defiant defensive masterclass at the City Ground propelled Arsenal into second place, as Gabriel and Ezri Konsa neutralised Nottingham Forest’s aerial assault to secure a vital shutout.
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Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on the centre-back partnership of Gabriel and Ezri Konsa after the Gunners registered their fourth clean sheet of the Premier League season on their way to a crucial 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest this evening.
Arsenal leapfrogged Brighton to re-enter second place in the Premier League table after a hard-fought victory over Oliver Glasner’s side, courtesy of Noni Madueke’s first Premier League goal of the 2026/27 campaign.
Mikel Arteta said that ‘the win was not possible without them’ in his post-match press conference when speaking on the defensive duo. Arteta went on to say that the squad had predicted ‘at least 50 balls in the air’ in the game from Nottingham Forest, with the Spaniard suggesting that it would have ‘definitely been close to that.’
Gabriel and Konsa have played together on eight occasions so far this season in all competitions, and whilst neither has managed to find the back of the net, the duo have registered a staggering six clean sheets, with four being in the Premier League and two in the Champions League so far this season.
The Arsenal boss was also quick to mention how the duo were ‘constantly on it’ in this evening’s crucial victory. Arteta said, ‘To be on it constantly, every action delivered is very tough. When you think it’s done, Wood and Hudson-Odoi come in and they start to have a different problem.’
Between them, the Englishman and Brazilian won seven ground duels and seven aerial duels, as well as covering over 20km. They also notched 149 passes in the match, often with immense calmness and maturity.
Gabriel and Ezri Konsa celebrate after keeping their sixth clean sheet of the season, as Arsenal run out 1-0 winners at the City Ground vs Nottingham Forest (IMAGO / Sports Press Photo)
Gabriel and Ezri Konsa celebrate after keeping their sixth clean sheet of the season, as Arsenal run out 1-0 winners at the City Ground vs Nottingham Forest (IMAGO / Sports Press Photo)
Perhaps, however, there were two key moments in particular that Arsenal fans would be quick to highlight in tonight’s victory. Both denied Nottingham Forest what looked to be certain goals with incredible recoveries and blocks. Gabriel’s moment came early in the second half, when Forest’s Dan Ndoye looked to be through on goal, before the intervention from Arsenal’s big Brazilian.
The action from Ezri Konsa, however, looked to be more game-defining. With the Gunners 1-0 up and looking to close out the game, Liam Delap looked to be through on goal, putting hearts in the mouths of Gunners fans at the City Ground and around the world, before an incredible sliding block from Arsenal’s £55 million summer signing kept the clean sheet intact. Arsenal went on to win all three points.
Matches aren’t going to get any easier for the centre-back duo, with both likely to start in the toughest trip of the season so far, when Arsenal travel to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League, before hosting David Moyes’ Everton side on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.