The Arsenal manager praised his team’s dominance and attempts to find different routes to goal but conceded that with the absence of his main four attacking players – Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz – Forest were able to deny them clearcut chances.
Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal “lacked that spark” in the goalless draw at Nottingham Forest that has left his team 13 points behind Liverpool with 11 games left.
Saturday’s home defeat by West Ham left Arsenal almost needing snookers, despite having a game in hand on Liverpool, who have beaten Manchester City and Newcastle United in the past four days.
He did however, unprompted, start to relish a return to Champions League action next week when Arsenal visit PSV Eindhoven for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Arsenal manager said he has a meeting with his medical staff today [Thursday] to get updates on his hamstrung wingers but neither Martinelli nor Saka is likely to be available before April.
