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We’re on the road again, my Arsenal family… and this time we’re at the City Ground, to face Nottingham Forest.

Always a tricky game for us on a regular day, but I’m expecting some extra trickery, as Forest are fighting to stay in the league… and in addition to that, Manchester City were away to Manchester United, and dropped points.

Well, dropped points is putting it mildly, because Manchester United, gave Mancheatster City, a real good hiding.

Yes the scoreline only read 2-0, but “YANITED” could’ve had 4 or 5.

Anyway, the point is… they did us a HUUUUUUGE favour, and The Gunners had the chance to go 9 points clear at the top.

THAT added pressure, increased the levels of trickiness.

The Arsenal HAD TO, hack down the Tricky Trees, in a professional, stress free way, just like some lumberjacks. Anything else, would feel like a missed opportunity.

Mikel Arteta freshened up the team, just a little… to keep fatigue at bay.

Raya started in goal, Timber at left-back, Gabriel and Saliba, central… and Benny Blanco (Ben White) at right-back.

Rice, Zubimendi, and Odegaard, in midfield.

The font three was Martinelli on the left, Gyokeres through the middle, and Madueke on the right.

Unsurprisingly, Forest started the game sitting deep, and in that oh so familiar, low defensive block.

Surprisingly, The Gunners started the game slowly, and lacklustre. We moved the ball slowly, and made it easy for the Tricky Trees…  enabling them to solidify their defensive branches, and leaf us frustrated.

We lacked potency in attack, and were devoid of all urgency. Sloppy passing became a theme, and our response to City losing, began to baffle me… more, and more.

The so called “Big players” who have so often delivered for us, must’ve lost their items in transit. No deliveries were made.

The Arsenal were nothing but a light breeze, barely moving the Tricky Trees, and the half-time scoreline of 0-0, was about right. We hadn’t done enough. Nowhere near enough.

Martinelli SOMEHOW, put a close range effort wide, when it was easier to score… and we started to look like we didn’t believe we could score.

Zubimendi seemed to have the same doubts, when he scuffed a shot off target, that he’d usually bury.

Arteta made some changes, in an attempt to obliterate said doubts.

Martinelli was subbed off at half-time, for Trossard.

In the 57th minute… Jesus replaced Gyokeres, Merino came on for Odegaard, and Madueke made way for Saka.

The change in our play, wasn’t at all noticeable… and this made me think that it wasn’t a personnel issue, but a mentality issue, running through the team.

Perhaps the failures of previous seasons, started to weigh heavy.

I could be completely wrong of course, and it could just simply be, a bad day at the office.

Bad days at the office happen, over the course of a title race… and it’s how we respond to them, that truly matters.

Gyokeres got in behind the Forest defence, and was clean through, but he lacked the necessary pace to shake off Murillo… who made a defensive block, before Gyokeres could get a decent shot off.

It just typified our performance. (Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighhhh)

We looked like creating more chances, at least… and I was grateful for that.

Declan Rice had a shot saved, after a Saka cross…but the shot had no conviction.

The favour was returned, when Rice put a great ball in to Saka this time, who towered above everyone… and headed goalwards. It looked destined to make the net bulge, but Sels… the Forest keeper, pulled off a magnificent save, to keep the score 0-0.

Eze came on for Zubimendi, in the 79th minute, and that particular substitution, should’ve been made A LOT sooner. Especially with Forest playing so defensively.

These are the type of games Eze can influence. He’s unpredictable, and has moments of magic, in abundance.

We ABSOLUTELY should’ve had a penalty by the way, when Aina handled the ball, BLATANTLY.

After the quickest of checks though, VAR of course said… no penalty.

A dodgy decision against Arsenal, is VERY on brand for VAR.

Aaaaaaanywhoooo…. The match finished 0-0, and although we didn’t play well, we had clear cut chances to win the game, but didn’t take them.

It’s not all doom, and gloom though… because we earned a point, and increased our lead at the top of the league, from 6 points, to 7 points.

Let’s remember that, my Arsenal family… while everyone else, is overreacting.

Next up, on our jampacked football calendar… is a trip to the San Siro, for our Champions League match, against Inter Milan.

Do you agree with my match analysis?

Are the players starting to doubt themselves?

Do you think our performances are being over analysed, because we’ve finished 2^nd three seasons in-a-row?

As usual, let me know in the comments. COYG!!