These teams may only be separated by one place in the Premier League table but the emotions released by players, coaches and fans at the end of this rabidly entertaining draw showed just how far apart their ambitions lie. Arsenal, in second place but trailing Liverpool by 13 points, are resigned to Champions League qualification; Nottingham Forest, in contrast, are intoxicated by the prospect.
Arsenal’s title challenge was limping anyway as their striking department fell into the treatment room in mid-winter but gaining one point from two games against West Ham and Forest over the past five days seems to have killed it off.
