NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-0 ARSENAL: Nothing could separate Sean Dyche and Mikel Arteta's sides, who had to settle for a point each on a night when all three would've been huge for both parties
Arsenal's French defender #02 William Saliba looks dejected after the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on January 17, 2026. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
Arsenal's French defender #02 William Saliba looks dejected after the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on January 17, 2026. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
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Arsenal have moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table - but it could've been more. The Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest in what was frankly one of this season's dullest games.
The best chance fell to Gabriel Martinelli, who somehow missed from four yards. Forest had Matz Sels to thank, as he pulled off a string of saves to become only the second goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against Arsenal this season.
An opportunity fell into Arsenal's lap on Saturday after title rivals Manchester City were beaten 2-0 away to Manchester United. The result means that chasers City have now gone four league games without a win.
As for Forest, a victory for West Ham and a draw for Burnley earlier in the day meant that it was even more important to get something from this one. They went into the late kick-off four points above the relegation zone.
Here are five talking points from the City Ground.
1. Martinelli makes a mess - and pays the price
There's 'how did he miss?' and then there's 'no really, how did he miss?' Gabriel Martinelli had a golden opportunity to give Arsenal the lead midway through what was a tricky first half.
After a Gunners corner fell to Noni Madueke, the winger fired it across goal and all Martinelli had to do was tap it home. Unfortunately, the Brazilian got too much on the ball and sent it wide, as the home crowd breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Martinelli took home the match ball last Sunday at Portsmouth thanks to a hat-trick, but his appearance here only lasted 45 minutes. Leandro Trossard replaced him at the break - Arteta wasn't messing about.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal attempts a goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 17, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Gabriel Martinelli missed a sitter before being subbed(Image: Ben Roberts - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Arsenal took eight shots in the opening 45 minutes but failed to get any of them on target. You'd have to go all the way back to Arteta's first game in charge in December 2019 to find a first half in which the Gunners were more wayward.
2. Forest's midfield enforcer shines again
The first half wasn't all Arsenal, though. Forest themselves had an important three points to fight for and no player personified it more than Elliot Anderson.
Playing alongside Ibrahim Sangare, the England international was a colossus and gave Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard a tough test in midfield. No Forest player had more touches (44), won more duels (6), made more ball recoveries (4) or won more fouls (2) than Anderson prior to half-time.
No wonder Manchester United and Chelsea are sniffing round. Rice must enjoy playing next to him rather than against him.
Nottingham Forest's English midfielder #08 Elliot Anderson controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on January 17, 2026. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
Elliot Anderson was a force in midfield(Image: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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3. Ruthless Arteta sees enough
As if making a substitution at half-time wasn't to demonstrate his displeasure, Arteta made THREE more changes before the hour mark. Madueke, Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres were hooked in place of Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino and Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal's failure to create clear-cut chances was giving Forest encouragement, although Sean Dyche's side weren't able to maintain attacks of their own. It was a scrappy affair, one which you felt one goal would decide.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 17, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta made four changes prior to the hour mark(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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4. Saka the spark
Arsenal looked like a different team with their No.7 on the pitch. Taking the armband, Saka also took the game by the scruff of its neck and helped the Gunners finally cause Forest to panic.
It was his header, superbly saved by Matz Sels, which got the away fans excited after over an hour of tedious play. He was causing problem after problem down the right and it begged the question: why didn't Arteta start him?
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal runs with the ball away from Neco Williams of Nottingham Forest during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 17, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka changed the game for Arsenal(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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5. Arsenal denied late penalty
Even without a goal, there was still late drama. As Ola Aina attempted to see the ball out in the last 10 minutes, the ball appeared to hit his arm and the inventible VAR check ensued.
Replays showed that the ball had clearly touched Aina's arm - but the decision was no penalty. The officials at Stockley Park deemed that the Forest right-back's movement to have been natural, much to Arsenal's anger as they chased a winner to no avail.
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