Mikel Arteta's Arsenal dropped two crucial points in the 2025/26 Premier League title race with a goalless away draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and Declan Rice's foul-mouthed five-word message to his teammates upon the full-time whistle has been revealed.
The chance to extend the gap between themselves and second-placed Manchester City to an eye-catching nine points went astray on Saturday evening after they struggled to find a breakthrough against a side who kept their first clean sheet in seven matches across all competitions.
With every dropped point this season, table-topping Arsenal are made to feel as though they are in danger of throwing away their chance, once again, at holding the English top flight title aloft in May – which would mark their first Premier League crown in over two decades.
Rice's Five-Word Message to Arsenal Teammates At Full-Time Revealed
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Ever since a fuss was made over Nicolas Jover's set-piece brilliance, the Gunners – who emptied their pockets to bring Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze to north London in the summer – have struggled to create much of a threat in open play and that notion rang true in their goalless draw with Sean Dyche-managed Forest.
Just three of their 15 shots tested Matz Sels and, all in all, it was far from a champion-worthy performance. Even though Forest were stubborn in their defensive set-up, you'd think the talent at Arsenal's disposal would see them through a side who are struggling near the foot of the English top flight table.
A better second half followed what can be considered a drab 45 (which saw them fail to register a shot on target) but the improvement of Arteta’s side still amounted to nothing as they failed to break the deadlock against the sturdy home team.
Things could've been different for the record winners of the FA Cup, though, if Ola Aina's handball offence resulted in a penalty late on. The Forest defender appeared to strike the ball with his arm in the 80th minute, but a corner kick was awarded rather than a spot kick; ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett and the VAR believes the referee made the incorrect decision.
After clapping the away contingent for travelling to the City Ground, a dejected Rice looked into the air and a camera zoomed in on the ex-West Ham United captain. "F***ing s****, every f***ing time!" he said, perhaps at the fact that Arsenal have failed to capitalise on City dropping points again.
Piers Morgan, one of Arsenal's most famous supporters, has reacted to the above footage. "He’s right! And this is why Rice should be captain," he wrote. "We lacked proper leadership today. For title run-ins, we need this mentality – a refusal to accept such mediocre performance."
London-born Rice, 27, has been a revelation in the middle of the park since his big-money move in the summer of 2023, and he's established himself as one of the best midfielders in world football. In 2025/26 alone, the Englishman has accrued 30 matches across all competitions – 21 of those coming in the Premier League – and has notched 12 goal contributions.
Will Arsenal Live to Regret Drawing to a Relegation-Threatened Forest Side?
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Although the club will be disappointed with picking up the solitary point on the road rather than all three, they still extended their lead at the summit of the Premier League table. Now sitting seven points clear, much of the post-match discussion has surrounded the fact the Gunners were unable to punish the fact their closest challengers dropped points.
No matter the outcome of the rest of the Premier League games on Sunday, a seven-point gap between first and second place remains.
Gabriel Martinelli fluffing his gilt-edged chance in the first half, before being replaced by Leandro Trossard at the break, was perhaps the away side's best chance of drawing first blood – and they could be looking back at that night in Nottingham with regret come the end of the campaign.
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Whether they'll live to regret dropping two points away to Forest will only be proved right or wrong when they conclude the season – but turning their attention to upcoming fixtures will be on the agenda of the capital club, who have been partial to letting their lead at the top of the table slip in recent seasons. As they say, it's never over until the fat lady sings.