Mikel Arteta rues missed chances as Arsenal draw blanks against Nottingham Forest

LONDON – Arsenal increased their lead at the top of the English Premier League table following a goal-less draw with Nottingham Forest on Jan 17, but it was a bittersweet result for their manager Mikel Arteta. 

Manchester City had earlier slumped to a 2-0 defeat by Manchester United

, giving Arsenal the opportunity to open up a nine-point gap, but they could not find the back of the net against Forest. 

Gunners winger Noni Madueke admitted it felt like “a missed opportunity”.

Arteta, meanwhile, told broadcaster TNT: “We came here to win the game and again, we haven’t managed to do that, and credit to them, the manner that they are organised. 

“When you have the four big chances that we have with (Gabriel) Martinelli, an open goal, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Bukayo Saka at the end, you have to find the margin to win the game, because again, we haven’t conceded a single shot on target.”

Arsenal lead the standings on 50 points, seven ahead of City and third-placed Aston Villa, who play Everton on Jan 18 in a match that ended after press time.

Arteta’s side were also denied a late penalty when the ball struck the arm of Forest defender Ola Aina, but a video assistant referee (VAR) review found that no infringement had taken place. 

“You have to produce that moment,” Arteta said. “We’ve created certain moments, but credit to them as well because they are very well-organised and they disrupt your momentum in clever ways as well all the time.”

He did, however, claim his side were denied a “clear penalty”.

Said Arteta: “It is true he (Aina) plays it with his shoulder, but then he brings the arm in to keep the ball inside the pitch, so it is a clear penalty.”

But the Premier League Match Centre posted on X: “The referee’s call of no penalty to Arsenal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that the ball was played off Aina’s shoulder first, while his arm was also in a natural position.”

Retired Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann, agreed, telling the BBC: “The arm is close to the body and is in a justifiable position.”

Forest manager Sean Dyche, unsurprisingly, had a different take to his Arsenal counterpart.

He said: “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.

“You may as well cancel football if you’re going to give that (as handball). The rules have to be careful. You know what they should be looking at? People feigning injury. That’s the new diving.”

On the match, Dyche added that he was very happy with his side’s performance against the league leaders.

Forest are 17th on 22 points, five points clear of the relegation zone. 

“We’ve got to be realistic about where we are now,” Dyche said. “There’s a lot of good work done now and a lot of good work out there today, but there is more to come.”

Arteta, meanwhile, paid tribute to Forest’s stout defending and the level of competition this season.

“The league shows how difficult it is – nobody’s winning, winning, winning, winning, because it’s so tough... and there are areas as well that you have to get credit to the opponent,” he said.

But former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said the Gunners need to “do something special” to win the Premier League for the first time since 2003-04. The former England centre-back was part of that “Invincibles” team who won the title without losing a single league match.

“You have to find that extra from somewhere, that inspirational moment. If you want to be champions, you have to do something special,” Keown told TNT Sports.

“If Arsenal were more clinical in front of goal, there are three points there... That’s where they will look to improve, because they are creating the opportunities, that’s not in doubt.” REUTERS, AFP