Arsenal Held By Forest As Saka Returns Amid Injury Woes

Arsenal’s pursuit of Premier League glory took another dramatic twist as they played out a tense 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground on January 17, 2026. Despite extending their lead at the top of the table to seven points over Manchester City, the Gunners were left ruing missed opportunities and a mounting list of injury concerns that threaten to test their title credentials as the season enters its crucial winter phase.

Manager Mikel Arteta’s decision to start Bukayo Saka on the bench raised plenty of eyebrows among fans and pundits alike. The 24-year-old England international, who’s been a mainstay in the lineup with 29 appearances and 13 goal contributions this season, was sidelined at kick-off due to a “niggle” picked up before the game. Arteta explained, “Bukayo had a lot of minutes and as well, he had a niggle before the game. So we need to manage our players, and we have some fantastic players that can provide different things.”

Saka’s absence was felt in the first half, as Arsenal struggled to break down a resolute Forest defense. The Gunners’ attack lacked its usual verve, with Noni Madueke starting in Saka’s place but finding it tough to make a decisive impact. The midfield, marshaled by Martin Zubimendi, also showed signs of nerves, with misplaced passes and a lack of composure in key moments. In one telling sequence, Zubimendi hacked the ball forward under no pressure, much to Arteta’s visible frustration on the touchline. The home crowd, sensing Arsenal’s hesitancy, grew in confidence as the half wore on.

Forest’s City Ground has long been a tricky hunting ground for Arsenal. The Gunners have managed just one win in their last five visits, and the ghosts of past disappointments haunted them once again. The match marked Arsenal’s first consecutive goalless draws since 2012, following a similarly frustrating 0-0 result against Liverpool just days earlier. As Arteta has often said, “Every week, we (Arsenal) have a point to prove. Once you are in a position that we are in, we want to maintain and extend the lead we have.” Yet, despite City’s stumble—a 2-0 loss to Manchester United—Arsenal could only widen the gap by two points instead of the expected three.

After a cagey first half, Arteta sensed the need for change. He brought on Leandro Trossard for Gabriel Martinelli at halftime, but the real statement came in the 57th minute with an unusually early triple substitution. Saka, Mikel Merino, and Gabriel Jesus all entered the fray, a rare move from the typically measured Arteta. “We tried after half time as well in the next taking more risk and bringing even more players in those attacking options. We tried in every way [to win the game] and it wasn’t enough, unfortunately,” he reflected post-match.

Saka’s impact was immediate. He created Arsenal’s best chance of the night, directing a powerful header towards the bottom corner, only for Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels to produce a stunning save. Merino and Declan Rice also saw efforts kept out by Sels, whose heroics kept the hosts in the contest. Despite the attacking flurry, Arsenal simply couldn’t find a way through.

Arteta’s frustration was palpable, particularly as the Gunners failed to capitalize on City’s earlier defeat. “Every week is an opportunity,” he said. “We want to win every game, and if we had done that, we would be in a different position (nine points clear). We made a smaller step than we wanted, but it’s a step.” The away end echoed this sentiment, with Arsenal’s traveling supporters chanting ‘We are top of the league’—their confidence tinged with a sense of missed opportunity.

Arsenal’s struggles at the City Ground are becoming something of a pattern. Since the 2022-23 season, each of the three times Arsenal have failed to score in consecutive Premier League games, the second game has been away to Forest (May 2023, February 2025, and now January 2026). The emotional intensity of away fixtures continues to challenge Arteta’s side, who have won six of their 11 away league games this season but often concede first and rarely dominate by large margins. The inability to “take the heat out of intense atmospheres,” as Arteta puts it, remains a hurdle on their road to the title.

Injuries are also beginning to bite. Saka’s “niggle” may require careful management in the coming weeks, though he’s expected to feature against Inter on January 20th. Piero Hincapie remains sidelined with a groin injury suffered on January 8, with a potential return penciled in for January 25 against Manchester United. Riccardo Calafiori and Max Dowman are both targeting early February for their comebacks after muscle and ankle injuries, respectively. The depth of Arsenal’s squad will be tested as the fixture list intensifies.

Looking back, the team’s evolution under Arteta has been marked by an increased resilience on the road, but this season’s away form has lacked the same composure that propelled them into title contention last year. The manager’s animated reactions on the sideline—whether burying his head in his hands after a careless turnover or shouting instructions to a jittery defense—speak to the pressure and expectations surrounding this campaign. “What we have to do with the ball, especially after regaining it in chaotic situations, we lacked a certain composure on the next two or three passes to be in the right areas to be able to dominate,” Arteta observed.

Yet, not everything is doom and gloom for the Gunners. They remain top of the Premier League, and their destiny is still very much in their own hands. Arteta’s willingness to make bold tactical changes and his emphasis on squad rotation may well pay dividends as the season progresses. The return of key players from injury could provide a timely boost, and the experience of grinding out results in tough environments might serve them well in the title run-in.

For now, Arsenal fans will be hoping that these consecutive goalless draws are mere blips rather than the start of a worrying trend. With a challenging fixture list ahead and the relentless pressure of a title chase, every point, every substitution, and every decision will come under the microscope. The Gunners have edged closer to their objective, but the margin for error is razor-thin.

As the Premier League campaign barrels toward its spring crescendo, Arsenal’s mettle will be tested like never before. Their response to these winter setbacks could very well define their season—and perhaps, their place in English football history.