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Mikel Arteta’s baffling decision as toothless Arsenal struggle to Nottingham Forest draw
Arsenal were held at the City Ground by Nottingham Forest after Mikel Arteta's selection decision backfired as a toothless Gunners struggled in front of goal
Arsenal missed the chance to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League after being held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners arrived at the City Ground knowing that victory would send them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League following Manchester City’s miserable performance in their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, and Aston Villa playing on Sunday.
Off the back of the Carabao Cup first leg win at Chelsea on Wednesday, Arteta decided to continue to monitor the minutes of Bukayo Saka and named the England winger on the bench, starting Noni Madueke.
Saka was an unused substitute against Portsmouth in the FA Cup victory last week and started six of the Gunners' last seven Premier League fixtures; however, Arteta remains cautious about his star man getting injured.
Speaking before the match, Arteta told TNT Sport: "We have a lot of games, so freshness. The capacity as well to change the game in any moment and a profile of wingers that we think will suit what we want to do in the game well."
But in this case he appeared to be overly cautious and his decision was interpreted as a slight on Nottingham Forest. Choosing to rest Saka ahead of the Champions League first leg against Inter Milan on Tuesday against a team battling for their lives at the wrong end of the table and under more pressure following West Ham’s win at Tottenham was a decision he had to quickly backtrack on.
Arsenal looked good in possession in the first-half but didn’t trouble Matz Sels in the Forest goal, the second half was also another toothless display with the Gunners not having a shot on target until Arteta hooked Noni Madueke for Saka in the 57th minute. Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Odegaard were also replaced for Gabriel Jesus and Mikel Merino after disappointing performances.
The league leaders needed a wake up with them looking like they were about to sleepwalk towards a goalless draw and an equally ineffective Forest team.
And it was no surprise that just two minutes after Saka’s introduction, Arsenal got their first shot on target of the game when Bukayo Saka won the ball on the right wing and delivered a cross to Declan Rice. The in-form midfielder fired a volley into the pitch which required Sels to make a flying stop.
Saka was then the second Arsenal player to test Sels when the Belgian had to be at full stretch to turn his looping header around the post.
Arsenal continued to mount attack after attack with Merino the next Arsenal player to go close as he didn’t get a clean contact on Declan Rice’s searching free-kick.
The visitors continued to mount the pressure in search of an equaliser but the Forest rear guard stood firm, even surviving a penalty shout for handball against Ola Aina.
Arsenal's point means they have extended their lead at the top of the table, but they will certainly feel they should have taken their chance to go even further clear.
Daily Star Sunday
Arsenal were held at the City Ground by Nottingham Forest after Mikel Arteta's selection decision backfired as a toothless Gunners struggled in front of goal
Arsenal missed the chance to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League after being held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners arrived at the City Ground knowing that victory would send them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League following Manchester City’s miserable performance in their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, and Aston Villa playing on Sunday.
Off the back of the Carabao Cup first leg win at Chelsea on Wednesday, Arteta decided to continue to monitor the minutes of Bukayo Saka and named the England winger on the bench, starting Noni Madueke.
Saka was an unused substitute against Portsmouth in the FA Cup victory last week and started six of the Gunners' last seven Premier League fixtures; however, Arteta remains cautious about his star man getting injured.
Speaking before the match, Arteta told TNT Sport: "We have a lot of games, so freshness. The capacity as well to change the game in any moment and a profile of wingers that we think will suit what we want to do in the game well."
But in this case he appeared to be overly cautious and his decision was interpreted as a slight on Nottingham Forest. Choosing to rest Saka ahead of the Champions League first leg against Inter Milan on Tuesday against a team battling for their lives at the wrong end of the table and under more pressure following West Ham’s win at Tottenham was a decision he had to quickly backtrack on.
Arsenal looked good in possession in the first-half but didn’t trouble Matz Sels in the Forest goal, the second half was also another toothless display with the Gunners not having a shot on target until Arteta hooked Noni Madueke for Saka in the 57th minute. Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Odegaard were also replaced for Gabriel Jesus and Mikel Merino after disappointing performances.
The league leaders needed a wake up with them looking like they were about to sleepwalk towards a goalless draw and an equally ineffective Forest team.
And it was no surprise that just two minutes after Saka’s introduction, Arsenal got their first shot on target of the game when Bukayo Saka won the ball on the right wing and delivered a cross to Declan Rice. The in-form midfielder fired a volley into the pitch which required Sels to make a flying stop.
Saka was then the second Arsenal player to test Sels when the Belgian had to be at full stretch to turn his looping header around the post.
Arsenal continued to mount attack after attack with Merino the next Arsenal player to go close as he didn’t get a clean contact on Declan Rice’s searching free-kick.
The visitors continued to mount the pressure in search of an equaliser but the Forest rear guard stood firm, even surviving a penalty shout for handball against Ola Aina.
Arsenal's point means they have extended their lead at the top of the table, but they will certainly feel they should have taken their chance to go even further clear.
Daily Star Sunday