Arsenal were held by a determined Nottingham Forest as the Premier League leaders slipped up on the road.
Arsenal had the best chances of the game but were thwarted by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels, who made a brilliant fingertip save from a Bukayo Saka header in the second half, and by their own poor finishing, with Gabriel Martinelli missing a clear shot at goal in the first half.
Sean Dyche’s Forest side were dogged in defence and had bright moments of their own, but couldn’t breach Arsenal’s defence as the game ended goalless.
Follow all of the latest from the Premier League clash with our live blog below.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal live
- Nottingham Forest host Arsenal in the Premier League | Live on TNT Sports
- Arsenal looking to stretch lead at top of the table after City defeat in Manchester derby
- Forest: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Anderson, Dominguez, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus
- Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Zubiemendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres
Arsenal inch towards the title despite frustration at Forest
Saturday 17 January 2026 21:36 , Lawrence OstlereWe leave you with Miguel Delaney’s report from the City Ground. Goodnight:
Arsenal inch towards Premier League title as Mikel Arteta left frustrated by Forest
Arteta speaks to TNT Sports
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:59 , Lawrence Ostlere“We were came here to win the game. Credit to them, in the manner they were organised. We have four big chances through Martinelli, Rice, Zubimendi and Saka, but we couldn’t find the goal we need.”
Arteta calls the Aina incident a “clear penalty”.
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:53 , Lawrence OstlereHere is a look at that handball incident (only for UK readers):
VAR waves away appeals for a handball from Ola Aina ❌@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/a4zrd9egck
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 17, 2026
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:47 , Lawrence OstlereHere’s Sean Dyche on TNT Sports, denying that Ola Aina should have penalised for handball in the second half: “You never know, but I think that’s ridiculous. You might as well cancel football [if that’s a penalty].”
Full-time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:26 , Lawrence OstlereIt finishes all square, and the spoils are shared.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:25 , Lawrence Ostlere90+5 min: Arsenal will have one last go here...
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:24 , Lawrence Ostlere90+3 min: Matz Sels has been given man of the match by TNT Sports. He made some good saves, especially the one from Saka’s header, but I think it should have been Elliot Anderson.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:20 , Lawrence Ostlere90 min: Five minutes to be added on.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:19 , Lawrence Ostlere89 min: Omari Hutchinson replaces Nico Dominguez.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:17 , Lawrence Ostlere86 min: Hudson-Odoi lays the ball back to the edge of the box where Gibbs-White is arriving, but the midfielder can’t steer his first-time shot on target.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:15 , Lawrence Ostlere83 min: Anderson battles with Timber and wins a free-kick on the edge of his own box to give Forest a breather. Elliot Anderson has been superb.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:12 , Lawrence Ostlere80 min: An interesting and possibly controversial moment, as Aina is cleared of handball in the Forest box. Replays showed he definitely touched the ball with his arm as he tried to keep it in play on the byline, and it looked pretty deliberate. But the referee didn’t see it and VAR has called it a “natural position”. Hmmm. Arsenal perhaps should have had a penalty there.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:09 , Lawrence Ostlere78 min: An attacking change by Arteta – Eze replaces Zubimendi.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:06 , Lawrence Ostlere76 min: Forest’s Jesus is replaced by Dan Ndoye.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:05 , Lawrence Ostlere74 min: Half a chance for Forest, as Dominguez receives a Hudson-Odoi pass in the box, but Rice has tracked the run and makes an important tackle.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:04 , Lawrence Ostlere73 min: Forest assistant manager Ian Woan is booked for getting a bit too heated in his technical area.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:02 , Lawrence Ostlere71 min: The in-swinging delivery from Rice is brilliant but Merino can’t divert it on target from eight yards out. Gabriel was lurking at the back post and perhaps would have been a better player to get on the end of that one.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:01 , Lawrence Ostlere70 min: Sangare gives away a foul this time, and Arsenal have yet another set-piece opportunity with a free-kick from 40 yards. Rice is chatting to Gabriel before delivering.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 19:00 , Lawrence Ostlere69 min: Rice’s cross is easily cleared. Saka delivers another cross and Forest clear for a corner.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:59 , Lawrence Ostlere68 min: Murillo trips Merino, and Arsenal will have a free-kick around 30 yards from goal, to the right side. One for Rice to hit, perhaps?
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:57 , Lawrence Ostlere67 min: Timber plays a terrible pass from the halfway line off the pitch and that will be a goal kick.
Sean Dyche will be delighted with this showing so far, but it feels like Arsenal are getting closer.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:56 , Lawrence Ostlere65 min: What a stop! Jesus finds Rice in the box who clips a cross into Saka, and his header is brilliantly saved by Sels! He was at full stretch, diving to his right, and tipped it away with his fingers.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:54 , Lawrence Ostlere62 min: Arsenal have wrestled back control of the game in this second half, thanks to those substitutions. Trossard tries to pick out his fellow sub Merino running into the box but it’s just overhit.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:50 , Lawrence Ostlere59 min: Saka immediately brings some energy, pinching the ball and driving down the right before clipping a cross for Rice in the box. Rice manages to steer a shot on target which is pushed away for a corner. Saka’s corner is dealt with well by the Forest defence.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:47 , Lawrence Ostlere56 min: Saka, Jesus and Merino replace Madueke, Gyokeres and Odegaard.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:45 , Lawrence Ostlere55 min: Forest’s corner is cleared away. Mikel Arteta is about to ring the changes...
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:45 , Lawrence Ostlere53 min: Hudson-Odoi tries to skip around Madueke, who sticks to his task and makes a block. Corner.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:42 , Lawrence Ostlere50 min: Rice is penalised for a trip on his England teammate Anderson.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:40 , Lawrence Ostlere48 min: Williams tries a Cruyff-turn on the touchline but only ends up kicking the ball off the pitch.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:37 , Lawrence Ostlere46 min: Mikel Arteta makes one change as Leandro Trossard replaces Gabriel Martinelli. A bit of guile instead of raw pace, perhaps.
Second half: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:36 , Lawrence OstlereBack underway at the City Ground.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:35 , Lawrence Ostlere“You want to be champions, you’ve got to take those moments,” says Martin Keown on TNT Sports as he watches back Gabriel Martinelli’s remarkable miss from close range.
“It hits him on the heel,” Steven Gerrard explains.
Half-time: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:19 , Lawrence OstlereNot a thriller so far but intriguing enough. Forest have defended well and carried a bit of a threat too, at times. Arsenal had the best chance of the half through Martinelli, but otherwise have struggled to create clear sights at goal. All to play for.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:16 , Lawrence Ostlere45 min: Anderson tries to curl in a cross from the right but it sails over the bar.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:15 , Lawrence Ostlere43 min: Forest are keeping up the pressure as this half nears an end. Can they snatch a lead?
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:11 , Lawrence Ostlere41 min: Murillo makes a total mess of a clearance on the halfway line and suddenly Gyokeres is racing through on goal. But just as the striker goes to pull the trigger, Murillo slides in to make the block. A great recovery.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:09 , Lawrence Ostlere39 min: The ball pinballs around the edge of the box before Aina relieves the pressure on Arsenal with an ambitious volley which goes well wide.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:07 , Lawrence Ostlere37 min: Timber is booked for pulling down Hudson-Odoi right on the edge of the box. He was taking a risk there! A good position for Forest, this...
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:07 , Lawrence Ostlere34 min: Hudson-Odoi does really well to drive down the left side but there’s no teammate in the box and Arsenal clear. Better from Forest, though.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:02 , Lawrence Ostlere31 min: Zubimendi bursts into the area and fires a cross through the six-yard box, way too hard for any teammate to get on the end of it. Rice wanted the cutback but Zubimendi didn’t see him on the edge of the box.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 18:00 , Lawrence Ostlere28 min: What a miss! Rice’s corner is cleared to Madueke, who jabs it back into the box. The ball runs all the way through the melee to the back post where Martinelli slides in to surely score, but somehow the Brazilian knocks the ball all the way across goal and wide from just a few yards out.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:57 , Lawrence Ostlere26 mins: Arsenal are patiently searching for an opening but haven’t got very close so far. Forest have defended well.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:54 , Lawrence Ostlere22 min: Elliot Anderson has been sensational so far. He zooms in to steal the ball from an Arsenal player and then races away, earning a free-kick and a rest for his team.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:53 , Lawrence Ostlere19 mins: Ben White tries his luck but it flies over the bar.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:46 , Lawrence Ostlere15 min: A brief pause in the game while Nico Dominguez gets some treatment.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:44 , Lawrence Ostlere12 min: There’s a really good atmosphere at the City Ground tonight and I think the Forest players are responding well on the pitch. Early days, but they’ve coped well with the Premier League leaders so far.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:41 , Lawrence Ostlere9 min: Anderson brilliantly dispossesses Odegaard in the middle of the field and whips a cross to Jesus, who chests in the box before trying to get a shot away, but the ball is well cleared by Gabriel just before the Forest striker can connect.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:38 , Lawrence Ostlere7 min: Arsenal have Forest pinned in their own box, probing for a chance to shoot at goal. Timber and then Odegaard deliver crosses, but Forest deal with the danger.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:36 , Lawrence Ostlere6 min: Madueke’s whipped cross is a little too whipped, and it curls into the side netting.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:35 , Lawrence Ostlere5 min: Madueke dribbles at Williams who manages to block the England winger’s cross. Corner to Arsenal.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:34 , Lawrence Ostlere4 min: Gyokeres chases a throughball but Sels rushing out to clear it before the Swede can get there.
Kick-off! Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:33 , Lawrence Ostlere2 min: We’re under way and it’s a high-paced start, both teams showing plenty of energy and intent.
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:29 , Lawrence OstlereA reminder of the two teams tonight:
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Anderson, Dominguez, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus.
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Awoniyi, D Luiz, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Savona.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Zubiemendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Havertz, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Jesus.
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:25 , Lawrence OstlereFive minutes until kick-off at the City Ground...
Dyche: Forest need new recruits
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:14 , Lawrence OstlereNottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche is trying to bring a striker to the club during the current transfer window.
Forest only have Brazilian Igor Jesus available to them with Chris Wood out following knee surgery and Arnaud Kalimuendo allowed to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan.
Dyche said ahead of Saturday's visit of leaders Arsenal: "The obvious one is the striker area because we are a bit short there. The club felt it was a really good deal for Kalimuendo to go out.
"We are looking at various options to bring in. That's the obvious one that jumps off the page.
"You've got to be ready for the shifting sands of the market. It's an unusual market, or a slightly different market, in the January window than it is in the summer.
"We've got to be proactive where we can be and reactive if things change. I think the club are well aware of that.
"I've had a good meeting from the owner all the way through the structure about what we think we've got and what we think we need.
"It's aligning the right people and getting the deals done, which is often the hardest part - the actual process of getting the deal done and getting the player here."
Arteta not worried by Rice argument with Stuivenberg
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:08 , Lawrence OstlereAsked to clear up the situation between Rice and Stuivenberg, who has been at Arsenal since 2019, boss Arteta said: "All sorted, all good.
"The good thing is that by the time I found out, the problem was resolved so that's very good."
Arteta not worried by Rice argument with Stuivenberg
Saturday 17 January 2026 17:03 , Lawrence OstlereMikel Arteta insisted the relationship between Declan Rice and one of his top coaches is "all good" following a heated exchange in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge.
Television footage emerged after Arsenal's 3-2 Carabao Cup victory at Chelsea on Wednesday of Rice and assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg embroiled in a tense conversation.
Rice's team-mate Gabriel intervened in the apparent disagreement which took place as the Arsenal players and coaching staff headed out for the second half of the semi-final clash.
Rice was substituted late in the second half and shared a long embrace with Stuivenberg before taking his place in the Arsenal dugout.
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 16:49 , Lawrence OstlereSome pre-match images as the two teams gear up for this one at the City Ground:
Nottingham Forest team news
Saturday 17 January 2026 16:38 , Lawrence OstlereIbrahim Sangare returns to the side and slots into midfield alongside Elliot Anderson. Nico Dominguez may be shunted on to the left wing, possibly, perhaps to help deal with the Madueke-White duo.
Arsenal team news
Saturday 17 January 2026 16:26 , Lawrence OstlereInteresting to see Saka on the bench today – Mikel Arteta has been cautious in managing his minutes across several different competitions, and that is the bonus of having Noni Madueke in the squad this season. Trossard, Havertz, Jesus, Merino and Eze are also on what it a supreme bench for the Gunners.
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal – confirmed line-ups
Saturday 17 January 2026 16:22 , Lawrence OstlereHere are the two teams. Bukayo Saka is on the bench for the Gunners...
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Anderson, Dominguez, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus.
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Awoniyi, D Luiz, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Savona.
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Zubiemendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Havertz, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Jesus.
Team news
Saturday 17 January 2026 16:07 , Lawrence OstlereChris Wood’s ongoing absence through injury and the departure of Arnaud Kalimuendo on loan has left only Igor Jesus available to Sean Dyche up front, with the Nottingham Forest manager confirming on Friday that the club were looking to recruit forward options.
Mikel Arteta played coy on match eve over the fitness of injured quartet Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Yerson Mosquera and Max Dowman, although his side is likely to have a familiar look regardless.
Confirmed line-ups coming shortly...
Arsenal building momentum, says Arteta
Saturday 17 January 2026 15:56 , Lawrence Ostlere“What we did the other day at Stamford Bridge should help us be very convinced that we have the ability to do that.
“But the reality is you have to show it in every game. There is still so much to happen, but we are glad that we are still alive in all four competitions.”
Arsenal building momentum, says Arteta
Saturday 17 January 2026 15:49 , Lawrence OstlereArsenal’s consistent performances should convince the players that they can achieve something historic this season, manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday, with the club in contention for four trophies.
Arteta’s side, who finished second in the English top flight in each of the past three seasons, hold a six-point lead at the top of the standings and are unbeaten in their last 10 matches across all competitions.
They are also top of their Champions League group after winning all six matches, have reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, and secured a 3-2 victory at Chelsea in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.
“We are building very good momentum, and belief comes from performances and the level of consistency we have shown throughout 32 games this season,” Arteta told reporters ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest.
How to watch the game
Saturday 17 January 2026 15:42 , Lawrence OstlereThe match is due to kick off at 5.30pm GMT.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the action live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 4.30pm GMT. A live stream will be available via discovery+.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
Saturday 17 January 2026 15:33 , Lawrence OstlereArsenal will look to solidify top spot in the Premier League as they visit Nottingham Forest.
Mikel Arteta’s side were held by Liverpool in their last league outing but have since achieved two cup wins as they continue to pursue trophies on several fronts.
The hosts secured a vital win at survival rivals West Ham before exiting the FA Cup to Wrexham, and will hope to build momentum over the next few weeks to cement their Premier League place next season.
Sean Dyche is short of forward options but will look, at the very least, to frustrate Arsenal as they seek more points.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal live
Saturday 17 January 2026 15:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleLeaders Arsenal return to Premier League action looking to extend their advantage at the top of the table as they visit Nottingham Forest. Mikel Arteta’s side took another step towards silverware with a midweek Carabao Cup semi-final first leg win over Chelsea, but might they be in for a tricky night by the Trent? Forest secured a massive and much-needed win over West Ham last time out, and will hope to build on that success.
Kick off at the City Ground is at 5.30pm GMT.
