Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions suffered another setback as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest.
Mikel Arteta admitted his side lacked creativity and a cutting edge, failing to break down a well-organized Forest defense.
With key attackers Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz all sidelined, the Gunners struggled in the final third.
Mikel Merino, deployed as a makeshift striker, registered their only shot on target, which was comfortably saved by Matz Sels.
“We dominated the game. We tried in many different ways. We insisted but lacked that spark, that final pass to unlock a well-organized team,” Arteta said. “We have to generate more shots on target.”
The result follows Arsenal’s shock 1-0 home defeat to West Ham, leaving them 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool, though they still have a game in hand.
Despite the setback, Arteta remained defiant, emphasizing the need to get back to winning ways. “The only thing we can do is win our matches and see how many points we get,” he added.
Meanwhile, Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo praised his side’s defensive resilience, securing a vital point after recent struggles.
“After this period we had conceding, it was important to go back to basics – solid, clean sheet,” he said.
