Arsenal Frustrated in Goalless Draw at Nottingham Forest as Title Chance Missed

Arsenal dropped points at the City Ground after a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest despite dominating possession.

Nottingham Forest held Arsenal to a frustrating 0-0 draw at the City Ground, costing Mikel Arteta’s side a golden opportunity to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Manchester City’s earlier defeat to Manchester United gave Arsenal the chance to tighten their grip on the Premier League title race. Arsenal arrived at the City Ground knowing victory would extend their lead, but Nottingham Forest and goalkeeper Matz Sels forced them to settle for a point.

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Arsenal seized control from the opening whistle, dominating possession but failing to unlock Forest’s compact and disciplined defensive block. With space restricted in central areas, the visitors recycled the ball patiently yet struggled to penetrate consistently.

Declan Rice carved out the best first-half chance with a clever through ball to Gabriel Martinelli, but Sels positioned himself perfectly to save. Forest offered little going forward, relying on defensive solidity. Chris Wood glanced a header wide from a rare set-piece, while David Raya remained largely untested before halftime.

Despite Arsenal’s territorial dominance, the scoreline stayed level at the break.

Sels Stands Tall Under Pressure

Arteta’s men returned with greater urgency. Bukayo Saka, introduced just before the hour mark, immediately threatened and forced Sels into a full-stretch save with effort. Moments later, Gabriel Jesus connected with a close-range header, only for the Forest keeper to produce another sharp stop.

Arsenal’s frustration grew when appeals for a handball penalty were waved away after a crowded box incident, with replays hinting at a debatable call. Arteta turned to Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard for added firepower, but Forest’s centre-back pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenković stood firm, repelling wave after wave of pressure.

Arsenal left the City Ground with dominance in possession but no breakthrough, their title charge momentarily stalled by Forest’s resilience and Sels’ inspired performance.

Late Arsenal pressure brought bodies forward and balls into the box, yet Forest defended heroically to preserve a valuable clean sheet.

Arteta Reacts as Arsenal Drop Points

After the match, Arteta expressed disappointment at Arsenal’s failure to convert dominance into goals, admitting his side did not take “big chances” when they mattered.

He praised Forest’s organisation but highlighted the penalty incident as a moment that could have changed the outcome.

Forest manager Sean Dyche, meanwhile, hailed the draw as a “huge point” in his side’s fight to pull clear of relegation danger.

The draw keeps Arsenal comfortably top of the Premier League, but the sense around the club will be that two points were left behind.

Manchester City remain seven points adrift, yet missed opportunities at this stage of the season can carry long-term consequences.

For Forest, the result edges them further from the bottom three and reinforces the defensive resilience that could prove decisive in their survival push.

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