Arsenal left the City Ground with frustration rather than momentum, held to a goalless draw by a Nottingham Forest side who offered resistance, discipline and a reminder that title races are shaped as much by stalemates as they are by statements. The result denied Arsenal the chance to stretch their advantage at the top of the Premier League to nine points, even if events elsewhere ensured their grip remains firm.
For Nottingham Forest, the point carried weight. With pressure building near the bottom of the table, this was an afternoon that rewarded effort and organisation, and one that reinforced belief in a difficult second half of the season.
Penalty appeal defines tense finale
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The defining moment arrived late on. With ten minutes remaining, Arsenal appealed for a penalty when Ola Aina brushed the ball with his arm as he attempted to clear alongside Elliot Anderson. Referee Michael Oliver waved play on, and the video assistant referee chose not to intervene. It was the sort of decision that lingers, especially on a day when chances were scarce and margins thin.
Arsenal had dominated possession but struggled to convert control into clarity. Neither side managed a shot on target in the first half, a reflection of the congestion in midfield and the reluctance to take risks. Gabriel Martinelli came closest, poking wide from close range, a chance that hinted at what might have been.
Arteta rotation blunts attacking edge
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Mikel Arteta’s selection suggested calculation rather than caution. With a busy schedule in mind, he rotated his side following the 3-2 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win at Chelsea, leaving Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard on the bench. The result was a performance that felt functional but muted.
Saka’s introduction after the break lifted the tempo, and Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels produced an excellent save to deny the England winger from a header. Martinelli, fresh from a hat-trick in the FA Cup, was withdrawn at half-time as Arsenal searched for invention, but despite increased pressure, the breakthrough never arrived.
Forest resilience offers survival hope
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For Nottingham Forest, this was an exercise in collective resolve. Sean Dyche had called for “spirit and togetherness” in his programme notes, and his players responded. Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo were commanding at centre-back, particularly when defending set-pieces, while the backline held firm against Arsenal’s changing forward line.
The City Ground crowd sensed the importance of the occasion and played its part. Forest had lost six of their previous ten home league matches, making this display a necessary step towards turning their stadium into a source of points rather than anxiety.
Arsenal remain seven points clear at the summit after Manchester City’s defeat, but this felt like an opportunity half taken. For Nottingham Forest, it felt like a platform.