Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal - Premier League RECAP: Gunners fail to go nine points clear at the top of the table after frustrating draw at the City Ground

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.

Steven Gerrard, former Liverpool captain, on TNT Sports:

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Can they stun Arsenal late?

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.