Shearer and Rooney back Dyche after Forest hold Arsenal

Nottingham Forest earned a valuable point against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday evening, holding Mikel Arteta’s side to a goalless draw at the City Ground in a result shaped by resilience, discipline and one outstanding individual display.

Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels was central to the outcome, producing a remarkable save to deny Bukayo Saka in the second half. On a night when Forest were willing to test Arsenal rather than simply survive, the point felt fully earned.

It was not without controversy, though. Arteta voiced frustration late on, believing Ola Aina was fortunate to escape conceding a penalty. That view was not shared by several high-profile voices.

Forest head coach Sean Dyche was dismissive of the suggestion that his side should have conceded a spot-kick in the closing stages. His stance was later backed by both Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney during their analysis on Match of the Day.

Rooney pointed to an earlier incident involving Jurrien Timber and Callum Hudson-Odoi, suggesting that if anything, Arsenal may have been fortunate themselves.

“Yeah, it’s close. I think if you look here, Timber is holding Callum Hudson-Odoi, and he does get into the box,” Rooney said. “But yeah, he lets go of him before he gets in the penalty area.”

Shearer, meanwhile, was emphatic in his assessment of the Aina incident.

“I agree with Sean Dyche. We don’t want to see these given, do we?” he said. “He gets a nudge in the back, does Aina, and for me, that’s just not a penalty. It’s not deliberate.”

Their consensus left Arteta in the minority, reinforcing the feeling that Forest benefitted from firm but fair officiating rather than fortune.

Beyond the debate, this was a Forest performance that mirrored Dyche’s blueprint. Organised without the ball, selective in their pressing and unafraid to engage Arsenal higher up the pitch, the hosts were far more than passive underdogs.

Forest may not have created enough to claim all three points, but they restricted Arsenal effectively and showed composure under sustained pressure. With West Ham United having won earlier in the day, picking up something tangible was crucial.

The result keeps belief alive inside the Forest camp that they can pull clear of the relegation zone with performances of this nature.

Arteta’s post-match focus on refereeing decisions did little to disguise Arsenal’s own failings. Despite controlling large spells of possession, the visitors lacked incision and struggled to convert dominance into clear-cut chances.

Forest’s defensive structure limited Arsenal’s creativity, and Sels’ heroics ensured the clean sheet. In that context, complaints over a late penalty appeal felt like sour grapes rather than a decisive injustice.

Forest will aim to build momentum from this result as they look to edge away from the bottom three. Arsenal, meanwhile, must regroup quickly after missing another opportunity to capitalise on dropped points elsewhere in the title race.

Was this a case of good defending being punished by modern expectations, or should Arsenal have had a penalty at the City Ground?