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Nuno Taunts Arsenal After Goalless Draw at City Ground

By on February 27, 2025

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo took a brutal swipe at Arsenal’s attacking struggles while explaining his tactical approach in last night’s 0-0 draw at the City Ground.

Mikel Arteta’s men, still reeling from their defeat to West Ham on Saturday, failed to bounce back, going a second consecutive game without scoring.

With Liverpool securing a victory over Newcastle, the Gunners now find themselves 13 points behind the Premier League leaders, leaving their title hopes hanging by a thread.

Despite dominating possession, Arsenal once again lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.

Midfielder Mikel Merino was deployed as a central striker in an attempt to provide a different attacking outlet, but the approach failed to yield results.

The closest Arsenal came to breaking the deadlock was through defender Riccardo Calafiori, who struck the post with a curling first-half effort.

At the other end, the visitors were fortunate to escape with a point, thanks to a last-ditch challenge from William Saliba that denied Chris Wood a potential winner.

Nuno’s Slight Dig at Arsenal

After the match, Santo explained his decision to tweak Forest’s tactics, opting for a five-man midfield instead of his usual defensive setup. Working as a pundit for TNT Sports , former Arsenal defender Martin Keown questioned the Portuguese manager on the switch, only to be left stunned by Santo’s response, which appeared to highlight Arsenal’s struggles up front.

“Arsenal doesn’t have a striker, so with Merino playing in that position, there is no need for an extra body (in defence),” Santo replied. “So the overload was in the midfield – it’s about containing the midfield.”

Forest’s tactical adjustment effectively stifled Arsenal’s attacking play, with the visitors unable to break down their well-organized opposition.

Arteta Faces Tough Decisions Ahead of PSV Clash

With two successive goalless performances, Arteta now faces a pressing challenge in solving his side’s attacking deficiencies.

Arsenal’s inability to find the net has become a growing concern, and the manager must quickly find solutions as they prepare to face PSV in the Champions League.

The Gunners need a response, and with their Premier League title hopes fading, Arteta will be desperate for his side to rediscover their scoring touch before their European showdown.