Mikel Arteta faced the media after our goalless draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, to assess the performance and game’s talking points.
The manager was asked about the result, his team selection, refereeing decisions, the state of play in the Premier League and more.
Here’s a full transcript from the post-match press conference…
on the result and the performance:
Obviously we came here to win the game and we haven’t managed to do that for different reasons. Credit to them, because they are really well organised and they are really good at breaking momentum when you have certain dominance in the game. But the reality is that we created four massive chances as well with Martinelli an open goal, Declan Rice a tap-in, Mikel and the header of Bukayo, and on top of that obviously a very clear penalty in the box that is not given. So, without conceding a single shot on target, again, the fact that we haven’t won the game is disappointing. On top of that, I think we can do things better, especially in certain attacking areas.
on missing the opportunity to move nine points clear:
Every week is an opportunity. We want to win every game and if we would have done that, we would have been in a different position. But we made a step, a smaller one than the one we wanted, but it’s a step.
on the things he was hoping to improve in attack:
I think it was different. The style is completely different and what we had to do with the ball, especially after regaining it in chaotic situations which is what they proposed. We lacked certain composure on the next two or three passes to be in the right areas to be able to dominate the game and not have these chaotic moments as often as we did, and then credit to them as well, because in every game that I’ve seen against them, they are a team that are very difficult to penetrate against. So when you have those moments, you have to make them because then you start to face a different game.
on the reason for swapping both wingers:
Bukayo had a lot of minutes and he had a niggle before the game so we need to manage our players. We have some fantastic players that can provide different things and we did try it from the beginning, we tried after half-time as well, taking more risks and bringing in even more players in those attacking options. We tried in every way and it wasn’t enough unfortunately.
Read more
Madueke: “We take a point and we move on”
on Gyokeres’ performance:
Obviously we want the players to be decisive at this level because we need them to score goals and create moments where we can unlock the door and get an opening which changes the game normally, and we haven’t managed to take that and that’s everybody’s responsibility.
on the temptation to bring Eze on earlier:
Yeah but we had other ways as well, and in the spaces that we could produce and the manner that they defend as well, it is very difficult to find those spaces that are in the box and creating certain chaotic moments like we did that we should have scored.
on whether he feels we should or could be further ahead in the league table:
If we win every game, yes, but unfortunately we haven’t won today and the opportunity that we wanted to take, we haven’t managed to do that.
on the late penalty shout:
They are right, it hits the shoulder and then he takes the ball with the hand. The explanation is not right, but the rest is OK. The order is OK but the timing and intention of the player is very clear. If not I wouldn’t be sitting here saying it’s, in my opinion, a very clear penalty.
Read more
Highlights: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
