Mikel Arteta rues “very painful” result against Nottingham Forest

Mikel Arteta has spoken to the media about a “very painful” night for Arsenal, who were held to a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta bemoaned his team’s “very painful” 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, as Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to 13 points.

The Gunners dominated much of the action at the City Ground but could not find the breakthrough and were forced to settle for just one point.

The visitors came closest mid-way through the first half when Riccardo Calafiori broke into the box before turning his defender and curling towards goal, but his strike came back off the post.

And in the second half, Mikel Merino rose highest to head a Declan Rice corner towards goal, but goalkeeper Matz Sels was equal to it.

Forest did have chances, with Morgan Gibbs-White firing straight at David Raya when he found space inside the Arsenal box, and a crucial last-ditch William Saliba tackle denying Chris Wood.

Speaking about his side’s spirits after the game, Arteta said: “It’s about what we can do, and it was like this a week ago, two weeks before, three months ago. That’s the only thing that we can control if we want to have a real chance to do anything.

“Today we dropped two points, which is very painful again and we have to step up – we have the Champions League, we have a beautiful competition in front of us and we have to be ready for Tuesday.”

Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at Anfield saw the gap at the top extended to 13 points, a surely insurmountable margin given the form of both teams.

Any possible comeback at this point would likely require Arsenal to win every one of their remaining 11 games, a feat they look incapable of in their current state.

A collapse to the effect of Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle in 1995/96 would also be needed from a Liverpool side who have not lost a Premier League game since September.