Arsenal's title hopes dwindle after goalless draw with Nottingham Forest
What's the story
Arsenal's Premier League title hopes took a huge dent after a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners, who already trailed league leaders Liverpool by 11 points, couldn't manage a win despite an improved display.
Their offensive woes were apparent as they didn't have the required precision in their attacks.
Riccardo Calafiori came closest to scoring for Arsenal with a shot that hit the post in the first half.
Here's more.
Offensive woes
Arsenal's attack struggles amid injury crisis
Mikel Merino, a regular midfielder but a makeshift striker in light of Arsenal's injury crisis, was able to force a save from Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels.
However, that was the only shot on target for the Gunners in the entire match.
The team's offensive woes were further highlighted by their inability to convert opportunities into goals throughout the game.
Defensive display
Nottingham Forest's resilient defense secures crucial point
Nottingham Forest put up a strong defensive display, with standout player Murillo leading the charge. Their resilience earned them a crucial point in their quest for a Champions League finish.
This result comes after their narrow 4-3 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday.
The team's defensive strategy effectively neutralized Arsenal's attempts at goal, contributing significantly to the stalemate.
Title prospects
Arsenal's title hopes hang by a thread
The draw leaves Arsenal staring at a 13-point deficit against Liverpool, all but killing any remaining title hopes.
The result highlights their offensive problems, which have only worsened with the injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
The team's inability to score has become a common theme in recent matches, severely affecting their Premier League campaign.
Details
Match stats and points table
Forest had two shots on target with Arsenal managing only one. The Gunners had 0.97 expected goals to Forest's 0.37.
Mikel Arteta's men had 30 touches in the opposition box. Forest had 16 such touches.
Arsenal dominated ball possession (65%).
After 27 matches, Arsenal own 54 points. This was their 9th defeat.
Forest are third with 48 points. They are a point above 4th-placed Manchester City, who beat Tottenham 1-0.
Opta stats
Key records made in the match
For the first time since May 2023, Arsenal have failed to score in successive Premier League games. They lost to Newcastle 1-0 before this goalless draw.
Forest drew 0-0 in the Premier League for the first time since October 2023. They saw a 56-game run without a goalless draw come to an end.
As mentioned above, this was Arsenal's 9th draw this season. It's their most since the 2019-20 campaign (14 draws).