Arsenal moved two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners deservedly took a two-goal lead in the second half thanks to strikes from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.
But despite their dominance at the City Ground, with Mikel Arteta’s side having 74 per cent possession and 19 shots, Forest forced a nervy finish as substitute Taiwo Awoniyi pulled one back in the 89th minute.
Arsenal, though, held on to make it back-to-back wins and move second behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand on the north London side as they host Chelsea on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Forest’s relegation fears deepened with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side now sitting just two points above the drop zone.
How Arsenal kept pressure up on Liverpool
Arsenal took full control of the game from the first whistle as they set about exorcising the ghosts of last season’s defeat at the City Ground, which saw their title challenge ended.
But Arteta’s side failed to test their former goalkeeper Matt Turner in the first half, with Saka’s deflected shot off Murillo the closest they came.
Meanwhile, Forest offered very little as they failed to have a shot on target and had just two touches in the Arsenal box.
Awoniyi was introduced for Chris Wood at half-time but Arsenal continued to dominate as Saka finally tested Turner who saved his deflected effort.
The visitors’ frustrations grew further as Jesus then hit the post, but Jesus did find the back of the net in the 65th minute as he squeezed one in past Turner at his near post.
Zinchenko’s throw-in released the Brazilian and Jesus poked through Turner’s legs in another poor moment for the American after a number of mistakes this season.
Seven minutes later, Gonzalo Montiel’s error allowed Arsenal to break and Jesus to turn provider as he picked out Saka who fired across Turner into the bottom corner.
But Forest did set up a tense finale thanks to Awoniyi’s 89th-minute finish as he rolled William Saliba to fire under David Raya.
The Forest striker went close in stoppage time as he hooked a volley straight at Raya but Arsenal saw out the victory to cut the gap to Liverpool at the summit.
