Blunted Arsenal grind to a halt in grating stalemate at Nottingham Forest

These teams may only be separated by one place in the Premier League table but the emotions released by players, coaches and fans at the end of this entertaining draw showed just how far apart their ambitions lie. Arsenal are resigned to just Champions League qualification; Nottingham Forest, in contrast, are intoxicated at the tantalising prospect of it.

Arsenal’s title challenge started running down as their striking department fell into the treatment room in mid-winter but gaining one point from two games against West Ham and Forest seems to have killed it off completely. With the second-string midfielder Mikel Merino again obliged to deputise up front in the absence of Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal lacked the necessary killer instinct as Forest returned to their resolute and robust role as the great underdogs in this challenge for a first return to Europe’s premier competition since 1980.

The early stages of the game all seemed to hinge on Riccardo Calafiori. The Italian left-back, who might not have started but for Myles Lewis-Skelly’s suspension, was booked for an early foul on Callum Hudson-Odoi. Arsenal fans’ hearts climbed into their mouths when the winger then burst past the Italian, into the area, and stumbled over under the breath of contact. Andrew Madley deemed it no penalty; VAR agreed.

With the greater security of Jorginho patrolling in front of Arsenal’s defence and Gabriel Magalhães pulling out left when needed, ­Calafiori regularly roamed forward as in inverted left-back. He even found himself as the furthest man forward midway through the goalless first half and bent a shot against the inside of the far post. Matz Sels was relieved to catch the rebound.

Starting the night 11 points adrift of the league leaders Liverpool, it was no surprise that Arsenal dominated possession. Such a situation is not unusual for Forest, whose position in the top three has relied so much on their counterattacking prowess.

They had scarce goalscoring opportunities in the first half, however, and were grateful at the other end for Murillo’s deft covering when Ethan Nwaneri turned adroitly on to Calafiori’s short pass into the area and threatened to break in on goal. Yet it was the £42m left-back who was withdrawn at the interval, to be replaced by Kieran Tierney, and it was the Celtic-bound defender who almost headed the opening goal as Arsenal’s prowess at corners came once more to the fore. First Merino, Arsenal’s saviour in the East Midlands with the two goals that did for Leicester City 11 days earlier, found freedom at the back post to head Declan Rice’s delivery goalwards, Sels parrying superbly at point-blank range; then Tierney wormed his way in at the near post to thud his effort just wide. Arsenal looked to be tightening the screw.

With Liverpool and Manchester City winning by this stage, the imperative for victory was exacerbated. Mikel Arteta had said his team would give up on their title chances “over his dead body”. Forest were penned back well into the second half. Sign up to Football Daily.

Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football. after newsletter promotion. Forest’s status as top-four interlopers was represented by their xG of 0.06 as the hour mark passed and Nuno Espírito Santo called for Ryan Yates and Danilo to stiffen up the midfield. After three defeats in four, a point must have seemed attractive even if the City Ground retained its ferocious hostility.

Finally Chris Wood chiselled in down the inside-left channel and fired off a fine shot that David Raya had to save. Then William Saliba was obliged to pull out a superbly timed last-ditch tackle to deny Forest’s top scorer from breaking in on goal. Arsenal thought they had broken through eight minutes from time when Martin Ødegaard was released inside the area by Leandro Trossard and not once but twice had his efforts cleared from off or near the line. But the flag had gone up to indicate Trossard was offside. It typified Arsenal’s frustrating night.