Arsenal Held to Frustrating Draw as Gunners Miss Chance to Strengthen Title Grip

Arsenal’s Premier League outing on Saturday, 17 January 2026 ended in a frustrating 0–0 draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, as the Gunners failed to carve out a decisive breakthrough despite dominating large portions of the game. 

Coming into the match, Arsenal had the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League following Manchester City’s earlier defeat to Manchester United. A win would have seen Mikel Arteta’s side move nine points clear, but instead they were held to a stalemate that kept them seven points in front with 50 points from 22 matches. 

From the first whistle, Arsenal controlled possession and dictated the tempo, looking to break down Nottingham Forest’s compact defensive setup. The visitors’ attacking unit — anchored by the creative threat of Martin Ødegaard, the pace and directness of Gabriel Martinelli, and the movement of Viktor Gyökeres — worked hard to unlock Forest’s backline, but time and again they came up against a resolute and well-organised opponent. 

One of the key moments of the first half came when Martinelli missed a glaring chance, squandering what looked like a golden opportunity to put the leaders ahead. That miss seemed to set the tone for Arsenal’s day: plenty of possession, lots of forward play, but a lack of clinical finishing in the final third. 

Forest, for their part, defended with discipline. Their goalkeeper Matz Sels was in fine form, making key saves to deny Arsenal’s efforts — including pushing away a header from Bukayo Saka and other close-range attempts. His performance gave Forest a deserved boost and ensured the home side left with a valuable point that keeps them in touch with safety in the relegation battle. 

Arsenal’s frustrations were further compounded in the second half when a VAR review turned down a potential penalty shout after a handball claim against Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina. The decision evoked a chorus of disbelief from the visiting fans and players alike, who felt their side had been denied a clear chance to take the lead. 

As the match wore on, Arteta introduced fresh attacking options, bringing on players like Gabriel Jesus and Eberechi Eze in a bid to spark the decisive moment. However, Forest stayed organised and compact, repelling wave after wave of Arsenal pressure in the final third. 

Though the result may feel like a setback in Arsenal’s title bid, they remain comfortably ahead at the summit of the Premier League table. The draw does, however, underline a recurring theme this season: while their defence has been strong, scoring goals has not always come easily in key moments. 

For Nottingham Forest, the point is a morale-boosting outcome that gives their fans hope in a season where every match feels like a fight for survival. Meanwhile, Arsenal will reflect on this encounter as a missed opportunity — but one that still leaves them firmly in control of the title race with plenty of football still to be played.