Arsenal stumble at City Ground: As the Gunners' attack proved ineffective against Matz Sels
Arsenal drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest in the 22nd round of the Premier League, dropping crucial points on a day when their attack was ineffective and the opposing goalkeeper put in an outstanding performance.
The goalless draw between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in the 22nd round of the Premier League at City Ground was a disappointing result for Mikel Arteta's side. Despite traveling to Midlands as league leaders with high spirits, the Gunners encountered a solid and highly disciplined defense.
Out of sync in attack and wasted opportunities.
The biggest reason Arsenal dropped two points was their inability to convert chances into goals. Despite dominating possession, reaching up to 96% in the first five minutes, Arsenal endured a forgettable first half without a single shot on target.
The wasteful finishing was most evident in the 29th minute, when Gabriel Martinelli missed a golden opportunity at the far post, sending the ball just wide of the post. Martin Zubimendi's indecisiveness and Mikel Merino's missed header in the 71st minute further added to the list of disappointments for the visiting team.
Matz Sels - An impenetrable "wall"
Nottingham Forest's transformation is undeniable. Under Murillo's leadership, the home team's defense effectively neutralized their attacking threats, forcing the North London side to resort to passing the ball around the penalty area.
However, the real hero at City Ground was goalkeeper Matz Sels. The decisive moment came in the 65th minute, when Bukayo Saka's powerful header seemed poised to open the scoring. With a spectacular reflex save, Sels dived to deny Arsenal their best effort of the match.
The VAR controversy and Mikel Arteta's tactics.
The match reached its dramatic climax in the 80th minute when Arsenal appealed for a penalty after Ola Aina's handball in the penalty area. However, after consulting VAR, referee Michael Oliver determined that the Nottingham Forest defender's arm was in a natural position, a decision that sparked considerable controversy after the match.
Besides objective factors, Mikel Arteta's personnel choices also raise many questions. Leaving both Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard on the bench in the first half significantly reduced the team's attacking potential. When the duo were brought on, Nottingham Forest established a very solid defense, rendering the substitutions ineffective.
This 0-0 draw not only ended Arsenal's momentum but also raised questions about the diversity of their playing style when facing deep-lying defensive blocks in the Premier League.
