CITY GROUND – Never mind Ola Aina handling the ball, every time Ben White held the ball you questioned Arsenal’s intentions in this match.
After Manchester United’s emphatic derby win over Manchester City, Arsenal had the chance to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League with victory at Nottingham Forest.
But with each lengthy White throw-in, the Arsenal full-back either unwilling to restart a sport he supposedly “hates” or short of options in front of him, the Gunners repeatedly wasted precious seconds that ultimately amounted to minutes in this 0-0 draw.
A point gained? Mikel Arteta brushed off that notion after full-time. “We made a step, a smaller one than the one that we wanted, but it’s a step,” he said.
But a second successive goalless draw in the Premier League, for the first time since 2012-13, suggests at this rate Arsenal may stumble rather than steamroll their way to glory.
Crying outright complacency feels too harsh but there remains a danger of this squad slumbering themselves into submission, particularly as this squad lacks serial winners with just one Premier League winner among them: Gabriel Jesus.
This lack of know-how surfaced in a Forest game there for the taking, with the lack of urgency mystifying and the threatening moments too few as three shots on target came from 15 overall – a miserly return.
To counter this they at least have the league’s best defence, one that is still very likely to win them the title, and arguably they deserve more praise for being where they are without a proper striker.
Viktor Gyokeres may have impressed in midweek against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, but a one-on-one opportunity at Forest left few inside this ground expecting the net to ripple, and when it didn’t, it was another reminder the Swede is certainly not going to be a reason Arsenal take home silverware this season.
Gyokeres’ struggles point towards a wider concern for Arsenal, again an issue that only their defence might dig them out of.
They may be top of the table that matters but you have to scroll well down to find their top scorers in the Premier League this season, with Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard both on five.
Only Sunderland, Everton and Wolves are further down that list, hinting at both a remarkable goal share among Arsenal’s players and yet a glaring hole where someone who is more clinical could have made this a procession already.
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So at least, as far as Arsenal are concerned, there is clear daylight, and that is what they need until their trip to City on 18 April. Pep Guardiola’s side may have been outclassed on Saturday, but the arrival of Marc Guehi will only steady a shaky defence, and with 16 games still to go this is far from over yet.
Do not sleep on Aston Villa either, but still it is in the hands of boring, boring Arsenal, who won’t care a jot the manner of how they get there, so long as they do.
It was never going to be smooth. Saturday was a reminder it might not be entirely exciting either.
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