Arteta Refuses to Give Up on Title Despite Arsenal's Lackluster Performance

Mikel Arteta refuses to give up on Arsenal's title challenge despite a lackluster 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest, saying they must get back to winning ways.

Mikel Arteta acknowledged that his Arsenal team lacked the creative spark necessary to break down Nottingham Forest's defense, as the Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday. This result dealt a significant blow to Arsenal's dwindling Premier League title hopes.

Injuries have severely impacted Arteta's attacking options, with key players Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz all currently sidelined. This lack of depth was evident in Arsenal's inability to score against Nottingham Forest, marking their second consecutive game without a goal following a shocking 1-0 home defeat to West Ham on Saturday.

💬 "Be with them, because that’s what we all need right now."

Mikel Arteta on his message to the players after tonight's result 👇

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 26, 2025

The draw against Nottingham Forest has left Arsenal trailing Liverpool by 13 points in the Premier League standings. Although the Gunners have a game in hand, their chances of securing a first title in 21 years are rapidly diminishing. In the absence of his regular forwards, Mikel Merino filled in as a makeshift center-forward and managed Arsenal's only shot on target, a header saved by Matz Sels early in the second half.

Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration with Arsenal's inability to break down Nottingham Forest's defense, despite dominating the game. “We dominated the game. We tried in many different ways. We insisted but lacked that spark, that final pass to unlock a well-organised team,” Arteta said. He emphasized the need for his team to create more scoring opportunities, stating, “We have to generate more shots on target.”

A point apiece in Nottingham. pic.twitter.com/fo4W0Z2e8G

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 26, 2025

Arteta had previously vowed to continue fighting for the title, saying he would give up “over my dead body.” He reiterated this sentiment, refusing to concede that Arsenal's title challenge was over. Instead, he emphasized the importance of getting back to winning ways. “It was same a week ago, two weeks ago, three months ago. The only thing we can do is win our matches and see how many points we get,” Arteta added.

The draw against Arsenal allowed Nottingham Forest to maintain their third-place position in the Premier League standings, ahead of defending champions Manchester City. Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was pleased with his team's defensive performance, which has been a key factor in their success this season. “After this period we had conceding it was important to go back to basics - solid, clean sheet,” Nuno said. He viewed the draw as a positive result, stating, ”In terms of the game, positive because it was very important to go back to the team we are that allows us to be successful.”