Three talking points from the City Ground as Nottingham Forest’s confidence and defensive dominance returned, enabling them to shut out Arsenal for a 0-0 draw. George Edwards was at the match
Nottingham Forest’s tussling goalless draw with Arsenal reaffirmed their position inside the top three of the Premier League, in a tie between two sides battling for different goals that played out evenly in terms of tactical setup and individual quality.
In the first half against Arsenal at home last season, Nuno’s Forest camped on the edge of the box with conviction, wary of the Gunners threat, perilously surviving at 0-0 until Matt Turner let them down in the second half. A year later Forest approached the challenge with intent, those defensive laurels remaining but with the fear they once had before replaced by confidence in their ability to take on the challenge head on and overcome it.
Forest were still happy to allow Arsenal to dominate possession but chose their moments to fight back, perhaps being more open than the year before but confident in their defensive stalwarts to mop up when required.
Ultimately both defences came out on top as the spoils were shared — here are three talking points:
A welcome clean sheet
Despite recent defensive falters, Nuno stuck with the same side that began proceedings at Newcastle, asking questions of their character and forcing a reaction.
His team have proved they can do so before this season, something of a necessity given the prospect of facing a side with attacking fluidity and set-piece dominance like Arsenal.
Across the 90 minutes, Forest conceded just one shot on target, a credit to their organisation and preparation. Nuno got it right once again, deploying Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga in far deeper roles than normal out of possession, aiding the full-back partnership of Neco Williams and Ola Aina, who have both been exposed of late.
From open play, Arsenal struggled to find space, hitting the post in the first half the biggest highlight of those chances, the Reds certainly having more memorable flurries forward from in possession.
The proposition of facing undoubtedly the best attacking set piece side around would have sent shivers down every spine inside the City Ground last season. How Forest dealt with the visitor’s threat was a testament to their progression, conceding 11 corners (it felt like more) and defending them with class.
Another clean sheet in Matz Sels hunt for the golden glove was a welcome reassurance that Forest’s recent defensive frailties can easily become a thing of the past, and that their methods are still viable.
A welcome return to home turf
Those defensive frailties have largely occurred on Forest’s travels, the Reds now only conceding four goals on home soil since December.
Their away record was something of a masterpiece in the early part of the season, Forest’s style of play making them a force on the road, churning out results like it was second nature. However, over recent times the normality of football has set in, with the Reds playing their best football in front of their supporters.
Only two Premier League sides have left Nottingham with three points this season; the buzz and excitement present at every home game evident despite the atmosphere never really replicating that of Forest’s first season back in the top flight.
Three away games without a win — Bournemouth, Fulham and Newcastle all left a bitter taste and made the homesick feeling distinct.
However, these results have now been sandwiched between grafting and uplifting draws with the league’s top two and a gloriously dominant victory against Brighton, allowing a welcome positivity to return as Forest look forward to their next two games, both under their own roof.
Ryan Yates epitomised Forest’s squad depth
The Ryan Yates hate brigade must not truly appreciate the ethos of Nottingham Forest.
Proven by their display against Arsenal, they aren’t dominant in possession, don’t press high and aren’t bothered about xG, all factors that have seemed to indicate success in modern football.
They have been the disrupters in the Premier League this season — in fact, in every season since their return. They strive to be different, to be themselves and to focus on a collective goal, even if their outlook and strategy is out there on its own.
Nobody displays that more than Ryan Yates. After being cast away from the starting XI this year, Yates’ recent impacts from the bench have reaffirmed his importance to his manager and the fanbase, if that reminder was even necessary.
Yates drove his side further forward, disturbing Arsenal’s spells of possession and firing up the supporters for the closing stages. His introduction was mirrored by that of Taiwo Awoniyi later on in the game, having influence and impact on William Saliba and Gabriel almost instantly, the pair uncomfortably securing their clean sheet by the end.
Both players won’t start every week, and their recent displays may suggest their presence is best felt from the bench. But as Forest approach their last 11 Premier League games, looking down upon most of the league, utilising their squad and maintaining their defensive attributes will be vital tools in their quest for Champions League football.
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