We were held to a goalless draw away to Nottingham Forest for the second consecutive season, despite creating the better of the chances.
The first half didn’t produce a shot on goal, though both Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Zubimendi shot wide when well placed.
Matz Sels denied Bukayo Saka with a full stretch save after the break, and we had a strong penalty appeal for handball turned down, but we couldn’t find the breakthrough.
The draw does extend our lead at the top of the table to seven points though.
**Martinelli goes close**
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Our third in a run of four consecutive away games – in four different competitions – took us to the City Ground Nottingham, with the chance to extend our lead at the top of the table up for grabs.
After an evenly contested opening quarter of an hour, we won a couple of corners in quick succession, one on either flank.
The first fell to Martinelli at the far post after Matz Sels got fingertips to the cross, but the Brazilian’s shot was charged down.
On the other wing Noni Madueke – in for Bukayo Saka in one of three changes from our midweek win over Chelsea – put his corner into a dangerous area, but Forest cleared.
Ben White shot over the bar from 20 yards after Madueke cut the ball back to him while at the other end David Raya raced out of his box to meet a throughball just ahead of Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The best chance of the opening half hour though fell to Martinelli. Just after White had forced a corner when his fizzing cross was turned behind by Ola Aina under pressure from Declan Rice, Martinelli found himself completely unmarked at the far post. Madueke’s shot from the edge of the box somehow went through the crowd, where Martinelli was sliding in, but he stabbed it wide across the goal from close range.
Zubimendi was next to shoot wide after being set up by Madueke, as we looked to ramp up the pressure.
**Triple change**
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After the hosts had a positive spell of their own, a high booming clearance from Martinelli bounced awkwardly for Murilo, allowing Viktor Gyokeres to run in on goal. The defender got back well though to deflect the Swede’s shot wide.
It had been an engaging half, albeit one in which neither side managed a shot on target.
The first ten minutes of the second half passed without any further chances, prompting Mikel Arteta to turn to his bench and summon Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.
The latter immediately fashioned a chance for Rice. Saka stole the ball off Neco Williams and swung in an early cross that Rice volleyed goalwards. Sels was able to turn it behind however.
The reverse combination produced our next attempt on goal. Rice stood up a cross from the left that Saka met with a looping header, only for Sels to scramble across superbly and claw away.
Fellow sub Merino also made Sels work with a header aimed low down into the corner, then glanced another header wide as we entered the final 20 minutes.
**Penalty appeal turned down**
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Eberechi Eze was the final sub, and Jesus almost found him in the area following a long Raya clearance, but the ball wouldn’t come down for him in time.
VAR checked a possible handball against Aina in the aftermath, but stuck with the on-field decision after a few replays, despite the defender seeming to move his arm towards the ball.
We remained frustrated after that though as we looked for the winner, recording back to back goalless draws in the league.
**What’s next**
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Our fourth consecutive away game is this Tuesday evening, in Italy to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League league phase – it’s our seventh match out of eight, as we look to extend our 100 per cent record in the competition. We return to Premier League action next weekend when we host Manchester United on Sunday.
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