Key stats
- 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.
- There have been seven Premier League games without a single shot on target in the first half this season, with Nottingham Forest involved in three of them (also against Man City and Wolves).
- Ben White made his 150th start for Arsenal across all competitions.
Highlights
Analysis
Forest's Matz Sels became just the second keeper to keep a clean sheet against Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal were in the ascendancy for the bulk of the match but failed to create many clear-cut chances against Forest.
Match report
Manchester City’s defeat to Manchester United, as well as West Ham United’s win against Tottenham Hotspur, earlier on Saturday gave both sides extra incentive for this clash, albeit to aid their respective situations at opposite ends of the table.
Sean Dyche’s men were looking to increase the gap between themselves and the bottom three, and created an early chance when Nicolás Domínguez’s close-range deflected strike went wide after the Argentine was spotted by Neco Williams.
League-leaders Arsenal, meanwhile, were struggling to find their groove in the opening exchanges, but Gabriel Martinelli would have been bitterly disappointed not to break the deadlock when his angled close-range finish crept past the far post.
Arteta’s side gradually moved through the gears, as Martín Zubimendi miscued his effort after a lovely through ball from Noni Madueke. Forest, though, were showing admirable resilience and ended the half strongly following a spell of sustained pressure, although they were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities.
Arteta reshuffled his pack just shy of the hour mark with a triple substitution that included the introduction of Bukayo Saka.
He looked to make an immediate impact when picking out Declan Rice, whose awkward shot took a bounce before Matz Sels parried it away to safety.
Rice then turned provider for the England winger, but the latter’s header was superbly tipped behind by the Forest shot-stopper.
Arsenal were looking more likely to find the opener, with Mikel Merino agonisingly close to connecting with Rice’s enticing set-piece from the left.
Nevertheless, Dyche’s men continued to battle hard and could have netted a winner themselves when Morgan Gibbs-White fired wide from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.
Ultimately, neither side could snatch the victory as the spoils were shared.
As a result, Arsenal are now seven points clear at the top of the table and remain firm favorites to finish at the summit and claim a first PL title in 22 years.
They also extend their unbeaten run to 11 games, while Forest can take plenty of confidence from a well-deserved point which leaves them five clear of the bottom three.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest)
Post-match comments
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to BBC Sport: "We obviously wanted to win the game, we knew the game was going to be very tough and very close as well from the way that they play.
"We created four big, big, big chances and a clear penalty, but we weren't able to win the game.
"I've just seen the replays, I think it's a clear intention to clear the ball inside and it's a clear penalty so I don't understand why it's not been given.
"We could've been better, but as well, this is happening all around the league for every single team. We have to improve and be better, especially when we create four big chances, you have to put them away."
Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche to TNT Sports: "I think if these start to get given we've all got to leave it. I think that's ridiculous. We've got to be careful with those.
"I thought you were going to say our one (penalty claim in the first half). Right on the line of the box, they say it's outside. I think he's already in full flight, he gets pulled, he's going in the box, he's going to get there.
"You may as well cancel football if you're going to give that (referring to the handball by Ola Aina). The rules have to be careful. You know what they should be looking at, people feigning injury. That's the new diving. I wouldn't worry about the handballs. Cancel football if that handball is given."