Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Report

Scorers: N/A

Arsenal’s Premier League title bid took another hit as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at the City Ground by Nottingham Forest, a result that leaves both teams with plenty to worry about.

While Forest continue to cling onto third place despite their poor recent form, the Gunners have now failed to win back-to-back league games, potentially falling further behind in the title race.

Cagey First Half Lacks Cutting Edge

With Arsenal missing a recognised striker and Forest struggling to find consistency, the match began with both sides hesitant in attack. The first half produced little in the way of goalmouth action, though Arsenal came closest to breaking the deadlock.

Riccardo Calafiori, stepping in at left-back due to Myles Lewis-Skelly’s suspension, created the most notable opportunity when he cleverly turned inside Nicolás Domínguez and aimed for the far corner, only to see his effort bounce off the post.

Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, with just one shot on target between them before the break. Meanwhile, early yellow cards for Calafiori and Nikola Milenković reflected the game’s scrappy nature, with neither side willing to commit too many players forward.

Arsenal Step Up After the Break but Fail to Capitalise

The second half saw Arsenal take control of possession, forcing Forest to sit deep and defend in numbers. Mikel Arteta’s men came close when Mikel Merino rose unmarked at the back post to meet a corner, but Matz Sels produced a stunning point-blank save to keep the game level.

Moments later, another Ødegaard set-piece found half-time substitute Kieran Tierney, whose header drifted agonisingly wide.

Despite Arsenal’s dominance in the early stages of the second period, they were unable to capitalise on their best spell of the match. As time ticked on, Forest grew into the contest, and their main man, Chris Wood, finally tested David Raya after being played through by Morgan Gibbs-White.

A brilliant last-ditch tackle from William Saliba then prevented Wood from going one-on-one with the Arsenal goalkeeper, ensuring the Gunners at least kept a clean sheet.

A Stalemate That Suits Neither Side

With neither team able to find a breakthrough, the spoils were ultimately shared in a result that does little to benefit either. Forest remain in third place but are now just two points ahead of the chasing pack in the battle for UEFA Champions League football.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s inability to find a winner could see them fall further behind leaders Liverpool, with their title challenge losing steam at a crucial point in the season.

Final Thoughts

• Arsenal: Another frustrating outing where they dominated possession but lacked a clinical edge up front. With Myles Lewis-Skelly suspended and Kai Havertz injured, their attacking options looked blunt, leaving Arteta with plenty to ponder ahead of the run-in.
• Nottingham Forest: Held firm defensively but lacked the attacking threat to put Arsenal under sustained pressure. With just one win in their last five matches, their hold on a top-four spot is now in serious jeopardy.

With the Gunners’ title hopes fading and Forest’s grip on a Champions League spot loosening, both teams must bounce back quickly to avoid losing further ground in their respective battles.

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Nottm Forest v Arsenal, 2024/25 | Premier League