Arsenal missed the chance to open a nine-point gap on Manchester City as they were held to a draw by Nottingham Forest amid a VAR dispute at the City Ground.
The Gunners wanted to take advantage of second-placed City’s defeat in the Manchester derby but could only add one point to their lead against their well-organized hosts.
Gabriel Martinelli missed their best chance of the first half when he shot wide from a few yards out and Forest needed Matz Sels to make an outstanding save from substitute Bukayo Saka’s header to send the Gunners out in the second half.
Arsenal’s frustration was compounded when a spot-kick in the Forest box by Ola Aina, who tried to block a corner in the 80th minute, was ruled out after a VAR review.
According to the Premier League Match Centre, the officials “observed that the ball was played over Aina’s shoulder first, and his arm was in a natural position”. Mikel Arteta felt it was a “clear penalty” while Sean Dyche took a different view. “You might give the ball away if you give it away,” he said.
Dyche’s side did not concede a goal midway through the game but defended strongly, aided by Elliot Anderson, who hit the pitch in impressive fashion as the hosts resisted Arsenal’s pressure for a long period of time.
It was another upset for Arsenal following their goalless loss to Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, where they once again failed to capitalize on Manchester City’s slippage.
It is the first time that Arsenal have had consecutive goals equal in the Premier League since the opening two games of the 2012/13 season against Sunderland and Stoke City.
Gabriel Martinelli missed a chance to put Arsenal ahead
Arteta’s side still have a healthy seven-point cushion over Pep Guardiola’s side, but will feel the margin should be bigger. Forest, on the other hand, can celebrate a hard-earned point that sees them move five points clear of the berth.
Dyche bullish on Arsenal penalty shout
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche to TNT Sports:
“If these start to be given, we will have to stop them. You never know, but I think that is bad. We have to be careful with these. You can cancel the ball if you give it.”
On Forest’s penalty against Jurrien Timber: “It’s ours? It was in the box line. They say it’s outside but it’s full of planes, it’s going into the box. It’ll get there.”
Answer from Forest: “You have to do the basics right, the formation has to be good, the energy has to be good. Committing to create, and it’s not easy. They are a threat and can open in different ways.
“The players did very well against a top team.”
Arteta: It was a clear penalty
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports:
“We came here to win the game. In the end we couldn’t do that. Credit to them and the manager, they set a game that they always want to provoke.
“We knew that, but when you have four big chances with Martinelli in an open goal, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Bukayo Saka, in the end you have to get the main to win the game, as we didn’t concede a single shot on target.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina fight for the ball
“A clear penalty, we will not forget it. That is a clear penalty in the box that was not awarded. These are the margins.
“I saw it live, I saw it here.
“We have to learn and improve. The league shows how difficult it is. Nobody wins, wins, wins. It’s very difficult, especially in the situation we faced today. We have to keep them away.”
Analysis: Draw puts Arteta’s call for Saka under scrutiny
Arteta spoke of the importance of rotation as Arsenal compete in four different competitions. They are on a tough four-game road streak. But it still seemed strange that his most influential striker was named on the bench.
There seemed no obvious need for it as Saka started just two of Arsenal’s last four games. Especially given the magnitude of the opportunity presented by Manchester City’s slip-up. What followed at the City Ground was a very close look at the decision.
Arsenal worked until Arteta made three changes early in the second half, after which Saka, for Noni Madueke, looked the most likely player to succeed. He almost did it, only to be denied by Sels when his head turned towards the corner.
Dragging is not far from disaster. Arsenal added to their lead at the top of the table. But Arsenal fans are right to wonder if the result would have been different had Saka started the game rather than coming on late.
Stingy Arsenal – Opta statistics
- Arsenal have not faced a single shot on target in a game for the fifth time in the Premier League this season, their most recorded in a single campaign (since 2003/04) and more than any team since Chelsea in 2020/21 (also five).
- Nottingham Forest have failed to score in 11 different Premier League games this season, more than any other side.
- Despite being subbed off at half-time, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli had the most shots (four) and the second-most touches in the box (six) of any player in the game.
