Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal (Premier League) 26.02.25

Gunners fail to fire, as the spoils are shared at the City Ground.

Despite a rather drab performance form Forest in the first half, pinned in by Arteta’s tactical gunners, Forest showcased a better second half, ultimately earning a fair point.

The first half

Forest clearly had a game plan against Arsenal – however, perhaps it didn’t bring the kindest viewing. Arsenal’s relentless press made Forest’s ability to break away from their box extremely challenging, with clearing the lines a frequent action as a result.

Two early yellow cards to mention too: Calafiori with a reckless bundling of Hudson-Odoi, and Milenković with a yellow for disrupting a set piece. Early cards for defenders…not sure Arteta & Nuno would be too happy with that.

Endless rotations, confident ball carriers, and strong defensive shape made Arsenal a bit of a nightmare to deal with. Timber and Nwaneri offered great attacking prowess, Neco Williams had a tough time dealing with the pair at first.

Forest though, more compact, and frankly getting the basics right, bar the odd breakthrough here and there. However, the odd breakthrough can be the different between three points and none, and for a moment, Forest fans thought Arsenal had taken the lead. A run through the Forest defence by Calafiori lead to him making a curled right-footed effort, only for the ball to – luckily for Forest – bounce out, and straight into the hands of Matz Sels. The fans can rest for now, but that was a nervy moment to say the least.

Other than that, I would say a mostly Arsenal controlled half – Forest limited to very limited time on the ball, a standard Arteta tactic, another tactic to mention was the set-pieces. And no, it is not praise – but in fact, showcasing the “dark arts”. Arsenal players lined up in all areas, making late runs, and essentially just fouling as they ran into the box. Awfully strange, amounted to nothing.

Not a lot of goal-mouth action, a fairly dull first half viewing wise, ends 0-0.

The second half 

Arsenal started once again in the way they did the first, except this time with Tierney replacing Calafiori – the Italian defender hooked at half time, perhaps the yellow card too much of a risk for Arteta?

Up until a change or two, it was pretty much more of the same – Forest lacked urgency, bite, and any ability to win those ‘second balls’. Nuno saw that, and made the right changes, with Yates & Danilo coming in. More men in the midfield, and some fresh legs – much needed.

Yates’ impact in particular was excellent, more of the same form his cameo – which came with a goal – against Newcastle on Sunday. Deserves a start, especially with Dominguez off form. Anderson was trying his best too, as a risk-taker naturally he faces scrutiny, but tonight I felt had he executed some of his passes with less power, Forest could have had many huge chances.

Arsenal came close, perhaps the closest forcing a Murillo goal-line clearance, only for it to be deemed offside. Only a Mikel Merino back post header coming closer without the flag. But that Murillo stop, genuinely world class – a defender with a price tag beyond the imagination of most Forest fans.

A much better second half for the Reds, Arsenal lack a real striker to finish off games, Forest gave them chances, but they didn’t take them. As for Forest, not as many chances, plus some superb defending from Saliba & Gabriel made the spoils shared.

A fair draw, ends 0-0.

Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Domingeuz (Danilo 63), Anderson, Gibbs-White, Elanga (Yates 62), Hudson-Odoi, Wood (Awoniyi 85).

*Article provided by Jamie Martin (Head Nottingham Forest Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFC Chris Wood in action against Arsenal.