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Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal: Report, result, goals from Premier League

Forest v Arsenal ended in a draw in the Premier League

Written by Ben Miller
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Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal: Report, result, goals from Premier League

Arsenal moved seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League but were held to their second successive top-flight draw with a stalemate against fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest at The City Ground.

Goalkeeper Matz Sels leapt to push a looping header from Arsenal substitute Bukayo Saka behind during the second half in a game of few major chances, including a first half without an attempt on target.

Forest manager Sean Dyche and Gunners counterpart Mikel Arteta had predictably contrasting views over a Video Assistant Referee decision in favour of Ola Aina with 10 minutes remaining, ruling that the home defender had not handled inside his own box.

Arsenal visit Italian leaders Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) and host Manchester United in the league on Sunday (16:30), while are next in action at Portuguese side Braga in the Europa League on Thursday (20:00) before visiting Brentford on Sunday (14:00).

You can see live text and stats updates as they happened from Forest vs Arsenal here.

Forest vs Arsenal: Premier League leaders miss chance

Arteta’s substitutions suggest the Spaniard was unimpressed with his strikeforce, starting with Gabriel Martinelli’s replacement by Leandro Trossard at half-time.

Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus and Saka then came on for Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Odegaard 12 minutes later, with Arteta perhaps wishing Kai Havertz – who remained an unused substitute – was closer to full fitness as the Germany international continues his comeback from injury.

With City losing 2-0 at Manchester United earlier on Saturday, the happiest contender with the day’s results could be Aston Villa, who will rise three points above the Cityzens and four behind Arsenal if they win their game in hand at home to Everton on Sunday (16:30).

Nottingham Forest team vs Arsenal

Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare made his return following his Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign with Ivory Coast, but defender Willy Boly, who was also part of the squad, was not in the hosts’ squad.

Omari Hutchinson made way for Sangare from the 2-1 win at West Ham on January 6.

Goalkeeper John Victor and striker Chris Wood (both knee) remained out. Midfielder Ryan Yates was on the bench following a hamstring issue.

Nottingham Forest starting XI: Matz Sels, Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams, Elliot Anderson, Ibrahim Sangare, Nicolas Dominguez, Morgan Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus, Callum Hudson-Odoi

Forest substitutes: Angus Gunn, Morato, Taiwo Awoniyi, Douglas Luiz, Dan Ndoye, Omari Hutchinson, Ryan Yates, James McAtee, Nicolo Savona

Arsenal team vs Forest

Goalkeeper David Raya and Madueke and Martinelli came in as Arsenal made three changes from their 3-2 win at Chelsea in the EFL Cup semi-finals first leg the previous Wednesday.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Saka and Trossard moved to the bench. Winger Max Dowman was out with an ankle injury but defender Cristhian Mosquera was back among the substitutes following the same issue.

Full-back Riccardo Calafiori was out with an unspecified issue and defender Piero Hincapie had a hamstring problem.

Arsenal starting XI: David Raya, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli

Arsenal substitutes: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Myles Lewis-Skelly

Forest vs Arsenal stats

  • Forest have lost eight of their last 11 Premier League games against Arsenal
  • All three exceptions have come at the City Ground since their return to the division in 2022 (1-0 in May 2023, 0-0 in February 2025, 0-0 in January 2026)
  • Forest have lost six of their 11 Premier League home games this season (W3 D1), which is one more than they lost at the City Ground in the whole of last season (W9 D5 L5)
  • Forest have also conceded more home goals this term (17) than in 2024/25 (16)
  • Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four Premier League games against Nottingham Forest, which is their longest run of league shutouts against the Tricky Trees
  • Arsenal failed to score in consecutive league games for the third time since 2022/23
  • On each occasion when that has happened, the thirdgame came at Nottingham Forest (May 2023, February 2025, January 2026)
  • The Gunners are the only side not to have trailed by at least two goals in a Premier League game this season, last doing so at Liverpool last May
  • Forest manager Sean Dyche has never seen his sides score more than once in a Premier League game against Arsenal, netting eight goals in 20 meetings
  • The Englishman has won two of these 20 games, with Burnley in December 2020 and Everton in February 2023
  • Morgan Gibbs-White remains one goal or assist away from becoming the first Forest player to register 50 goal involvements in the Premier League (22 goals, 27 assists)

Premier League results and fixtures this weekend

Saturday’s action began with Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu scoring in United’s first home league match since the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.

All matches start at 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT unless stated otherwise.

Saturday, January 17

Man United 2-0 Man City

Chelsea 2-0 Brentford

Leeds United 1-0 Fulham

Liverpool 1-1 Burnley

Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace

Tottenham 1-2 West Ham

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

Sunday, January 18

Wolves vs Newcastle (14:00)

Aston Villa vs Everton (16:30)

Monday, January 19

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Bournemouth (20:00)

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