Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League took a blow after they were held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest. The match at the City Ground saw very few chances, and both teams left disappointed with the result.
Arsenal came closest to scoring in the first half when Riccardo Calafiori hit the post. After the break, they increased the pressure but found it difficult to break through Forest’s strong defence. Mikel Merino’s header from a Declan Rice corner forced a save from Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, but Arsenal couldn’t find a breakthrough. Kieran Tierney also missed the target with a header from close range, while Thomas Partey’s shot late on was poorly struck.
Despite staying in second place with 57 points, Arsenal’s title challenge is fading. They are well behind leaders Liverpool, while Forest remain six points behind in third. Manager Mikel Arteta had promised to fight for the title before the match, but this result now puts Liverpool in a stronger position.
Arsenal’s hopes of closing the gap on Liverpool have been hurt by a series of draws this season. They have drawn nine of their 27 league games (W15 L3), their most since the 2019-20 season when they had 14 draws. Their recent struggles are worsened by an injury-hit attack.
Arsenal only managed one shot on target in the game, marking the third time this season they have done so in the Premier League. The same happened in their matches against Bournemouth in October and Newcastle in November. They have now gone two league games without scoring, something they haven’t done since May 2023.
The lack of goals is becoming a serious concern for Arsenal as they try to keep up with Liverpool. Their inability to convert chances into goals is damaging their position in the title race. If they are to remain competitive, Arsenal must quickly address these problems.
