Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal lacked creativity after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, further denting their Premier League title ambitions.
The Gunners, already struggling with injuries to key forwards Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz, have now gone two consecutive league games without scoring. Following a shock 1-0 home defeat to West Ham, they now trail leaders Liverpool by 13 points, albeit with a game in hand.
Arsenal dominated possession but failed to create clear-cut chances, with Mikel Merino—playing as a makeshift striker—registering their only shot on target. Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels comfortably saved his second-half header.
“We tried in many different ways but lacked that spark, that final pass to unlock a well-organised team,” Arteta said. “We have to generate more shots on target.”
Arteta had vowed before the match that he wouldn’t give up on the title race “over my dead body.” While he refused to concede defeat in the chase, he acknowledged that Arsenal must simply focus on winning their remaining games.
Forest, meanwhile, remain third despite a rough patch of form that has seen them win just once in their last five league outings. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo was pleased with his team’s defensive resilience after a difficult run.
“After this period of conceding, it was important to go back to basics—solid, clean sheet,” Nuno said. “It was very important to get back to the team we are.”
