The Gunners failed to take full advantage of Manchester City dropping points.
Arsenal played to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest on a day where they could have stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 9 points. They still picked up points on Manchester City but the draw leaves a somewhat sour taste in the mouth. The Gunners did enough to win the game (2.5 xG), but a stunning Matz Sels save, a pretty clear penalty not given, and a general lack of sharp attacking play were their undoing. Sometimes it just isn’t your day.
There has already been a fair bit of overreacting to the result, which stems more from the missed opportunity at the top of the table. The Gunners were fine. They weren’t scintillating but they weren’t poor, either. Gabriel Martinelli missed a mostly open net. Viktor Gyokeres was run down on a breakaway, with significant help from two uncalled pullbacks by Murillo that absolutely helped the defender catch up and block the shot. Bukayo Saka was denied by a brilliant fingertip save. Mikel Merino headed a decent chance wide and in doing so might have denied Gabriel and even better chance. It was a match full of nearly moments, none of which came off. Usually that doesn’t happen — more often then not, one of those break your way.
Arsenal were about as likely to score FIVE goals against Nottingham Forest as they were to score zero.
I’m struggling to understand how Ola Aina wasn’t penalized for handball late in the second half. His arm moves towards the ball, contacts it, and nearly keeps it from going out for a corner. I’d wager the reason it wasn’t given is that his arm is in a natural position, but for my money, when you move your arm TOWARDS the ball, that’s it. I’d even grant that his arm is in a natural position to start. You’d expect a bent elbow and the arm moving back to front as someone moves — that’s how you run. The problem is Aina moves his arm from right to left to make contact with the ball. That’s not a natural movement. Your arms don’t naturally move across your direction of travel, they move with your direction of travel. Further, the Handball Law specifically states “it is an offence if a player: deliberately touches the ball with their hand / arm, for example moving the hand / arm towards the ball.”
It was a remarkably poor decision from the VAR.
Nottingham Forest were held without a shot on target. It’s the fifth time this season that Arsenal have done that to an opponent and the second time that Arsenal have failed to win a match in which they threw a no-shots-er. Today was also Arsenal’s second consecutive 0-0 match in the Premier League. The club hadn’t been shutout in two consecutive matches since the 2012-13 season.
I wouldn’t get too worried, though. I think it’s just a particularly unfortunate spate of finishing variance. The chances are there. The goals will come back. It would be nice to have Kai Havertz able to play meaningful minutes. Viktor Gyokeres ain’t getting it done. Nor is Gabriel Jesus. They’re both doing some good stuff, but Arsenal need more.
I also wouldn’t overlook the fatigue effect. This was Arsenal’s third away game in six days. Mikel Arteta has rotated his side, probably as best he could, but fatigue catches up to you. The Gunners needed a tiny bit more today — energy, sharpness, what have you.
As I said at the top, sometimes it be like that. Today wasn’t Arsenal’s day. They’re still seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and will finish the weekend no worse than four clear of Aston Villa and seven clear of Manchester City. That’s pretty good!
Category: General Sports
