Nottingham Forest held Arsenal to a goalless draw at the City Ground, slowing the Premier League leaders’ push in the title race. A strong display from Mats Sels denied Mikel Arteta’s side, who created
pressure after half-time but could not find a way past the Forest goalkeeper.
The result leaves Arsenal frustrated after a second straight 0-0 league match, despite knowing a win would have opened a nine-point advantage. That chance came after Manchester City lost to Manchester United earlier on 17 January 2026, handing Arsenal a clear opportunity to stretch the gap.
Arsenal’s lead is now vulnerable, with the advantage at the top set to shrink further if Aston Villa beat Everton on Sunday, which would cut the margin to four points. Arteta’s team now also face questions over attacking sharpness, with recent dominance in possession not matched by goals.
Forest, organised under Sean Dyche, focused on defensive structure and succeeded in disrupting Arsenal’s rhythm. The hosts limited big chances before half-time, when Gabriel Martinelli came closest, turning a close-range effort wide. Arsenal failed to force a save from Sels before the break, despite sustained territory.
The match opened up after half-time as Arsenal pushed harder. Sels was finally tested three times, producing key interventions. The standout moment came in the 65th minute, when a Bukayo Saka header seemed destined for the corner before Sels reacted sharply and pushed the ball away at full stretch.
Sels then denied Gabriel Jesus soon after, blocking a clever flick from close range. Arsenal also felt aggrieved when VAR ruled that Ola Aina’s handball inside the Forest penalty area came from a natural movement. That marginal decision added to the sense of frustration around Arsenal’s missed chance to secure victory.
Arsenal finished with 15 shots, but only three efforts were on target, underlining their difficulty in finding clear openings. Their expected goals figure of 2.07 suggested pressure and territory, yet Forest limited the quality of chances and relied on key interventions rather than regular last-ditch defending.
Forest did not manage a single effort on target. It was the first time they failed to hit the target in a Premier League match since November 2024, when they also struggled against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, and the first time at the City Ground since April 2023 against Manchester United.
2012 - Arsenal have had consecutive 0-0 draws in the Premier League for the first time since their opening two games of the 2012-13 campaign (vs Sunderland and Stoke). Hesitant. #NFOARS pic.twitter.com/07eXXigrfMOptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 17, 2026
Those numbers underline how one-sided the contest was in terms of attacking intent. Yet Arsenal’s second straight goalless league match, their first such sequence since the opening two fixtures of the 2012-13 season, means the title race remains open, with Forest taking confidence from a disciplined defensive display.
