Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal Player Ratings: Matz Sels' Heroics Hold Premier League Leaders to Frustrating Draw

Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw by Nottingham Forest at The City Ground in a Premier League fixture. The result felt like a win for the hosts and a missed opportunity for the visitors.

Arsenal dominated possession throughout the match. They created several chances but lacked precision in the final third. Many of their shots were either blocked or missed the target.

Nottingham Forest defended with strong discipline and commitment. Murillo was solid at the back, while goalkeeper Matz Sels made key interventions to keep Arsenal out. The introduction of Bukayo Saka in the second half added urgency to Arsenal’s attack. Declan Rice came close with a powerful effort, but Sels produced an excellent save.

Forest executed their defensive plan effectively to secure a valuable point. Arsenal left frustrated, once again struggling to break down a deep and well-organised defence.

Key Takeaways

1. Arsenal controlled possession but failed to convert their chances.
2. Matz Sels made crucial saves to keep Nottingham Forest level.
3. The match ended goalless with Forest earning a hard-fought point.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Nottingham Forest

Check out Arsenal player ratings from the Premier League game:

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: Had very little to do for large spells of the game. He was confident with his claims and his distribution was decent enough, but he was largely a spectator. Made a couple of routine recoveries and clearances but wasn't tested with a single significant shot. An easy day at the office, but that’s not what he’s there for.

Defenders

Ben White - 6.5: An energetic but ultimately frustrating performance. He got forward well on the right flank and tried to support the attack. However, he missed a golden opportunity in the first half that could have changed the game. Defensively he was okay, but we noticed he lost a few aerial duels. A mixed bag from him today.

William Saliba - 7.0: The usual calm and composed figure at the back. His passing accuracy was exceptional, helping Arsenal build from the back under pressure. He handled his defensive duties with ease and even managed to provoke an offside. He had a brief injury scare but shook it off to complete a solid performance.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.0: A really strong and commanding display from Gabriel. He was a rock, making five crucial clearances and winning his tackles. From our perspective, his partnership with Saliba was one of the few positives for the Gunners. He was aggressive, decisive, and snuffed out any potential danger before it developed.

Jurriën Timber - 6.0: Looked a little off the pace, to be honest. He picked up a silly yellow card for a needless foul and looked uncomfortable at times. While he completed most of his passes, he offered little threat going forward and was caught out defensively once or twice. Not his best day by any stretch.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 8.0: Arsenal's best player on the pitch by a country mile. He was everywhere, breaking up play with tackles and interceptions. What stood out to us was his creative spark, creating three chances including two big ones. He was denied a brilliant goal by an even better save from Sels. A true powerhouse performance.

Martín Zubimendi - 6.5: Did a tidy job in the middle of the park without ever really grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. His passing was reliable, and he shielded the defense effectively. However, he didn't provide the forward thrust or creativity needed to break down a stubborn Forest side. A solid but unspectacular outing before being subbed.

Martin Ødegaard - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet game from the captain. We expected him to be the one to unlock the defense, but he struggled to find space and influence proceedings. He was tidy in possession but created just one chance before being substituted early in the second half. A disappointing day for a player of his quality.

Forwards

Noni Madueke - 6.0: A performance full of effort but lacking in quality. He got into some good positions and attempted a few dribbles but was often wasteful with the ball, losing possession 13 times. He had two shots blocked and couldn't provide the spark needed. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Viktor Gyökeres - 5.5: What a disappointment. He was completely anonymous upfront. The striker barely touched the ball and lost almost every duel he contested. He looked isolated and offered no threat whatsoever. A performance to forget, and his substitution was a mercy.

Gabriel Martinelli - 6.5: He was lively in the first half and looked like Arsenal's biggest threat. He had four shots, though most were blocked, and missed a big chance he should have buried. His energy was good, but his end product wasn't there. Hooked at halftime, which felt a bit harsh at the time.

Substitutes

Leandro Trossard - 6.5: Replaced Martinelli at the break and brought some different ideas but couldn't find the breakthrough either. He was neat on the ball but didn't have that decisive moment.

Bukayo Saka - 7.0: Made an immediate impact. His introduction gave Arsenal a much-needed injection of pace and quality. He set up Rice's big chance and had a header saved himself. Looked the most likely to create something.

Gabriel Jesus - 6.5: Came on and offered more movement than Gyökeres, but he also struggled to get into clear goalscoring positions against a packed defense.

Mikel Merino - 6.5: Added a physical presence and got on the end of a couple of crosses, but his headers didn't find the target. A decent cameo.

Eberechi Eze - N/A: Came on late with not enough time to influence the game.

Manager

M. Arteta - 6.5: His team had 70% of the ball but couldn't make it count. The tactics felt predictable, and his starting front three failed to fire. His substitutes did improve the team's attacking threat, particularly Saka, but it was too little, too late. He'll be deeply frustrated with the result.

Nottingham Forest Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Let's discuss Nottingham Forest player ratings from the EPL fixture:

Goalkeeper

Matz Sels - 8.5: The undisputed man of the match. He was absolutely superb. While not peppered with shots all game, he made three massive saves in the second half to deny Rice and Saka. His command of his area was excellent and his saves single-handedly earned his team a point. A heroic performance.

Defenders

Neco Williams - 7.5: A fantastic defensive shift from the full-back. He won a staggering 7 out of his 13 duels and was a constant nuisance for Arsenal's attackers, drawing three fouls. He was disciplined, strong in the tackle, and a key part of the defensive shutout.

Murillo - 7.5: What a warrior. From our perspective, he was immense at the heart of the defense. He read the game brilliantly, making an incredible nine clearances and two interceptions. He put his body on the line time and time again. A colossal performance from the Brazilian.

Nikola Milenković - 7.0: A very solid and composed display alongside Murillo. He made six clearances and didn't put a foot wrong. He was strong in his duels and played a crucial role in keeping Arsenal's forwards quiet. A really disciplined performance from the Serbian international.

Ola Aina - 6.5: A steady and reliable performance on the left side of the defence. He stuck to his task well, making three clearances and an interception. He picked up a late yellow card but overall, he contributed to a brilliant team defensive effort without doing anything spectacular.

Midfielders

Ibrahim Sangaré - 7.0: He provided a formidable screen in front of the back four. He was a disruptive force, breaking up play and using his physicality to dominate the midfield battle. He didn't offer much on the ball, but his defensive contribution was vital to the team's clean sheet.

Elliot Anderson - 7.5: An all-action, energetic display that we loved watching. He covered every blade of grass, winning 11 duels and recovering the ball seven times. He was tenacious and his work rate was infectious, constantly harrying Arsenal's midfielders and preventing them from settling.

Morgan Gibbs-White - 6.0: A surprisingly ineffective game from the Forest captain. We expected him to be their main creative outlet, but he struggled to get involved. He lost possession frequently and his two shots were both off target. A quiet and frustrating afternoon for him.

Nicolás Domínguez - 6.5: Worked his socks off for the team. He was full of running and made his presence felt with some strong tackles. However, he was very sloppy in possession, giving the ball away 17 times. His effort was undeniable, but his quality on the ball was lacking.

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 7.0: Looked like Forest's most likely source of a goal. He created a couple of chances and his passing was surprisingly accurate. He worked hard defensively as well. His final product could have been better, but he was a bright spark in a team that spent most of the game defending.

Forwards

Igor Jesus - 6.0: Had the thankless task of leading the line on his own. He was completely isolated and starved of service. He battled hard, winning a decent number of duels, but he was fighting a losing battle against Saliba and Gabriel. A tough day at the office for the striker.

Substitutes

Dan Ndoye - 6.0: Came on to offer some fresh legs in the final 15 minutes but had little opportunity to impact the game offensively.

Omari Hutchinson - N/A: A late substitution with no time to make a mark.

Manager

S. Dyche - 7.5: A tactical masterclass in defensive organization. He set his team up to frustrate Arsenal, and they executed his plan to perfection. The team was disciplined, organized, and incredibly hard to break down. He'll be delighted with the performance and the well-earned point.

Man of the Match

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels was the player of the match with 8.5/10 ratings.

Worst Performer

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres failed to make any impact.