Relive Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Nottingham Forest welcome Arsenal to the City Ground in the Premier League, with Isaan Khan reporting from the ground. 

Gunners fire a blank

Right guys, it's time for me to head off.

As I am a man of full transparanecy, I have to admit, I wrote a whole summary for this blog and accidentally deleted it.

To paraphrase it went something like: Arsenal were bad, the game was boring, but they are still seven points clear.

Oh yeah, and Nottingham Forest are five points clear of safety - not bad.

I hope you understand that short summary because I am not going to write a better one. Sorry, not sorry.

Thanks for joining, see you all tomorrow.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta applauds his side's travelling supporters at the end of the match during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 17, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)

19:55

'It would ahve been a soft pen'

Steven Gerrard, former Liverpool captain, on TNT Sports:

I thought it would have been soft and I felt you deserved that bit of luck.
19:52

Dyche: 'My players delivered'

Sean Dyche, Nottingham Forest boss, speaking to TNT Sports:

There was no pressure [after West Ham's win]. We can't affect their results and play for them as well! It's the game, isn't it? It's our challenge, nothing to do with anyone else. You have to do the basics right, the shape has to be good, energy has to be good. Commitment to the cause, and it's not easy. They're a threat and can open you up in different ways. You have to stay in your shape and we did it well.
It's unlikely they're not going to make any chances. You may have to play an away style at home. That's sometimes the case. The players have delivered a very good performance against the top side. Not enough to win it, but we kept a clean sheet which against these is not an easy chance.

On whether Ola Aina should have been penalised for handball:

If these start getting given, we have to leave it. You never know but I think that's ridiculous. We have to be careful with these. You might as well cancel football if you give that one. What about our one? It was right on the line of the box. They're staying it's outside but he's in full flight, going into the box. He's going to get there.

On Elliot Anderson:

Elliot Anderson was terrific today. He was like Rolls Royce. Callum Hudson-Odoi was terrific.  Dominguez out of possession, fantastic team player. A blend of players. Goalkeeper made a great save, that's what he's there for. That's his job. There's a lot of responsibility on the players. We turned around a really tough situation but there's a lot more to do. You have a committed group of players, that's a good start.
Nottingham Forest's head coach Sean Dyche gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal in Nottingham, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)

19:49

'Aina's arm was in a natural position'

Premier League match centre on VAR's decision to not award a penalty to Arsenal:

The referee’s call of no penalty to Arsenal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that the ball was played off Aina’s shoulder first, while his arm was also in a natural position.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal and Ola Aina of Nottingham Forest battle for possession during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 17, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

19:45

Should Arsenal have had a penalty?

If it were up to me, yes, Arsenal would have had a penalty.

How VAR watched this Ola Aina handball for a solid minute or two and decided it was a natural movement, I don't know.

I'm sorry, but the Nottingham Forest defender definitely moves his arm toward the ball. He just does, and for no reason, too.

Forest certainly got away with one here.

19:43

Valuable point for Forest

While we could go on forever about how that was a missed opportunity for Arsenal, let's not discredit Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal didn't just struggle cause they were poor, Forest made them play that badly.

Sean Dyche's side barely gave them an inch.

Was it fun to watch for the neutral? Not in the slightest. But does that matter to Sean Dyche? Nada.

Dyche is here to keep Forest up, not to play pretty and exciting football (just look how that turned out for Ange Postecoglou). That was the type of performance that will keep Forest in this division.

A very valuable point in their bid for survival.

Nottingham Forest's Dan Ndoye and Elliot Anderson react following the Premier League match at City Ground, Nottingham. Picture date: Saturday January 17, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

19:38

'A good day for Villa'

Martin Keown, former Arsenal defender, on TNT Sports:

You could say it's been a good day for Aston Villa. But it's a point more than Manchester City got. It's twice now Arsenal have had opportunities to stretch their lead at the top, but they won't panic.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: John McGinn of Aston Villa celebrates his second goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on January 03, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

19:34

Arsenal hit stumbling block

What is up with the Premier League this season?

Everyone is dropping points left, right, and centre. Even the runaway league leaders are at it, and it's not just a one-off.

That result means that Arsenal have now had consecutive 0-0 draws in the Premier League for the first time since their opening two games of the 2012-13 campaign.

Things just aren't clicking in front of goal in the league, and it's something Mikel Arteta will have to look at.

Luckily for them, they have built themselves a decent buffer.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 17: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at City Ground on January 17, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

19:30

Missed chance for Arsenal

Seven points clear, but I bet they don't feel it.

Tonight was a huge opportunity for Arsenal to stamp their authority on this title race and go nine points clear of Manchester City.

After fumbling the chance given to them a couple of weeks ago, it felt like today they simply had to make use of City dropping points.

But yet again, they failed to capitalise.

Yes, the Gunners had chances throughout the game, but let's be real, they didn't deserve to win. In fact, they never really looked like scoring.

That's two stalemates on the spin now. Disappointing.

You have to say, the Premier League title race is not over just yet. Aston Villa can close the gap to four points with a win tomorrow.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Arsenal - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - January 17, 2026 Arsenal's Declan Rice reacts Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..

19:26

FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

Nope, they can't.

Arsenal have one final foray forward, which is hooked clear by the hosts, and there goes the whistle.

95 minutes that we won't get back.

Arsenal's French defender #02 William Saliba looks dejected after the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on January 17, 2026. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

19:24, 94'

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

One minute to go, and Nottingham Forest are the team with the ball.

Can they stun Arsenal late?

19:23, 93'

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

Was that the chance?

Arsenal whip a dangerous cross into the box, but it flicks off a Gunner head and goes miles wide.

That may well be the last opportunity of the match, and well, they didn't exactly take it.

Key Updates
  • FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
  • SECOND HALF: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
  • HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
  • KICK-OFF: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
  • Arsenal Team News - Saka BENCHED
  • Nottingham Forest Team News - Sangare IN
  • Crunch clash at the City Ground

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