Arsenal Held by Nottingham Forest as Title Race Intensifies

By Francis Onyach - Reporter

Kenya, 18 January 2026 - Arsenal were held to a 0–0 draw by Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, a result that sees them drop precious points at a crucial stage of the season, even as Manchester City suffered a slip of their own earlier in the weekend.

Despite dominating large periods of the match at the City Ground, Arsenal could not find the breakthrough against a resilient Forest side. The Gunners created several clear openings, with Gabriel Martinelli missing a close-range chance in the first half and Bukayo Saka denied by an impressive fingertip save from Forest’s goalkeeper, Matz Sels, in the second.

Arsenal substitute Mikel Merino also came close, heading narrowly over from a free-kick delivered by Declan Rice, but the Gunners were ultimately frustrated by Forest’s disciplined defence. A VAR review dismissed a potential penalty shout for Arsenal late in the second half, compounding Arsenal’s sense of frustration.

The draw, a result that leaves Arsenal with only one point from their trip to Nottingham, comes on the back of Manchester City’s own stumble earlier in the weekend. City were beaten 2–0 by Manchester United, a result that briefly opened the door for Arsenal to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League.

Even with Arsenal’s dropped points, the Gunners still maintain a healthy lead in the title race, sitting seven points clear of City at the summit after the weekend’s results.

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For Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, the performance was both encouraging and frustrating, his team controlled large stretches of the game but failed to convert dominance into goals. The draw also highlights how intense the title race has become: even when favourites slip up, challengers must still be crystal clear in front of goal to capitalize.

Nottingham Forest, for their part, will take great confidence from the point earned against one of England’s elite clubs, with the result helping them climb further away from the relegation battle.

As the season heads into its business end, every dropped point counts. Arsenal’s inability to find a winner here means Manchester City and other rivals remain within striking distance, setting up a dramatic run-in with each week’s fixtures carrying enormous weight.