Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as frustrated Gunners drop points in title race
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal: The points were shared at the City Ground
Arsenal and Nottingham Forest played out an entertaining draw at the City Ground in their top of the table Premier League clash.
Both teams were hoping to secure three points, Arsenal to close the gap on Liverpool, Forest to remain on target for a top four finish but they came away with a point each.
Arsenal again rued their lack of a frontline striker as Riccardo Calafiori came closest to breaking the deadlock with a blistering shot in the first half that struck the woodwork. Though Mikel Arteta’s men dominated possession Matz Sels was only called on a few times and the Forest goalkeeper was up to the task of denying Mikel Merino’s headed effort.
Forest’s best chance fell to in-form striker Chris Wood. Morgan Gibbs-White controlled an aerial ball, spun and slipped him in but Wood’s effort couldn’t beat David Raya.
Both defences were on top form as the result was a fair one even if it means the Gunners fall further behind Liverpool in the title race.
Relive the updates from the City Ground here:
Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu out for rest of season after knee surgery
Arsenal have confirmed that defender Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the rest of the season following surgery on his right knee.
Tomiyasu, 26, has featured just once this term following the injury, which he sustained prior to the campaign starting.
And the Gunners revealed the Japan international will now face an extended period on the sidelines.
Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu out for rest of season after knee surgery
Arsenal line-up to face Nottingham Forest
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Nottingham Forest line-up to face Arsenal
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Dominguez, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
Team news
The line-ups should be released in around five minutes, so here’s a quick reminder of the early team news.
For Forest, there were no new concerns after the loss to Newcastle, with Taiwo Awoniyi having returned.
For Arsenal, Miles Lewis-Skelly will miss this match as he serves the first match of his suspension for a red card against West Ham.
Ethan Nwaneri should be fit despite coming off against West Ham, while Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will remain out for the near future.
Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu are the long-term absentees.
Prediction
Despite Arsenal’s recent woes in front of goal, Forest’s loss to Newcastle demonstrates that they can leak goals. If Arsenal’s defence can remain firm, they should have enough to return to the capital with three points.
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal.
Predicted line-ups
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.
Team news
For Forest, there were no new concerns after the loss to Newcastle, with Taiwo Awoniyi having returned.
Carlos Miguel is currently the only long-term absentee.
Team news
For Arsenal, Miles Lewis-Skelly will miss this match as he serves the first match of his suspension for a red card against West Ham.
There was concern surrounding Ethan Nwaneri when he was taken off against West Ham, though Arteta later said that he thought it was “just fatigue”.
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are both nearing a return, with the Brazilian slightly ahead in his recovery.
Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain the long-term absentees.
Is Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal on TV?
When is Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal?
The match kicks off at 7.30pm GMT on Wednesday, 26 February at the City Ground in Nottingham.
How can I watch the match?
The match will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 2, with coverage starting at 6.30pm. Subscribers can also watch online or on the discovery+ app.
You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal LIVE
Nottingham Forest face Arsenal at the City Ground tonight as second takes on third in the Premier League.
The Gunners remain the main threat to Liverpool at the top of the table, though Mikel Arteta’s side trail the Reds by 11 points with 12 games left to play.
And tonight they face a Nottingham Forest side that have been the league’s surprise package so far, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s men currently sitting six points behind Arsenal in third.
While the title is off the cards for Forest, three points today would help cement a position in the top four as the club hunt a return to the European Cup, with a win helping them to stay at least three points ahead of Manchester City in fourth.
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