Arsenal Secures Two Consecutive Draws in Premier League, Lead Narrows
Arsenal has secured two consecutive draws in recent Premier League fixtures, first a 0-0 stalemate against Nottingham Forest and subsequently a 2-2 draw with Wolves. These results have seen the club drop points, with their lead at the top of the Premier League table fluctuating from seven points to five points ahead of second-place Manchester City, having played an additional match.
Arsenal's two consecutive draws have reduced their lead at the top of the Premier League from seven points to five points over Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Match Against Nottingham Forest: Goalless Draw
Premier League leaders Arsenal played to a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The outcome meant Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points, though they did not significantly capitalize on Manchester City's earlier loss to Manchester United. This margin could be reduced to four points pending Aston Villa's upcoming fixture. Nottingham Forest earned one point from the match, bringing their season total to 22 points, placing them three points behind 16th-place Leeds and five points clear of 18th-place West Ham.
Key Match Events
- The first half concluded goalless.
- Arsenal maintained 60% possession and recorded 8 shot attempts to Nottingham Forest's 3.
- Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels made a save from Bukayo Saka's header.
- A VAR review for a potential handball by Ola Aina concluded without a penalty awarded to Arsenal.
Starting Lineups
- Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Sangare, Dominguez, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus.
- Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Magalhaes, Timber, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.
Substitutions for Arsenal
- Leandro Trossard replaced Gabriel Martinelli at halftime.
- Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka entered in the 57th minute, replacing Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, and Viktor Gyokeres.
- Eberechi Eze replaced Martin Zubimendi in the 79th minute.
Managerial Record
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has recorded two wins, four draws, and five clean sheets against Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta across 10 matches.
Match Against Wolves: 2-2 Draw
Arsenal later drew 2-2 with Wolves on a Wednesday, having initially held a two-goal lead before Wolves scored twice in the final half-hour of the game. This result marked Arsenal dropping points in consecutive games, reducing their lead over Manchester City to five points, with Arsenal having played one more match.
Arsenal relinquished a two-goal lead against Wolves, settling for a 2-2 draw and dropping points in consecutive games.
Goal Summary
- 5th Minute: Bukayo Saka scored for Arsenal from close range after receiving a ball from Declan Rice.
- 56th Minute: Piero Hincapié extended Arsenal's lead to 2-0. The goal was initially flagged for offside but confirmed by VAR.
- 61st Minute: Hugo Bueno scored for Wolves, reducing the deficit to 2-1 with a shot from outside the box.
- Stoppage Time: Tom Edozie equalized for Wolves, with his effort deflecting off Riccardo Calafiori before entering the net. The goal followed a cross into the box and a goalkeeping error by David Raya.
Other Match Details
Wolves goalkeeper José Sá made a double save early in the match, preventing further Arsenal goals.
Team Updates for Wolves Match
- Wolves: Hwang Hee-chan and Toti Gomes were unavailable due to injury. Andre was considered for play. Recent January additions to the squad included Adam Armstrong and Angel Gomes.
- Arsenal: Injuries included Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Mikel Merino, and Kai Havertz. Bukayo Saka and Eze were deployed in central roles, while Noni Madueke played on the right wing.
League Implications
Following these two draws, Arsenal has accrued 58 points and dropped 11 points in their last seven Premier League games. Their lead at the top of the table now stands at five points over Manchester City, who have played one game fewer. Wolves remain in 20th place with 10 points, two points away from surpassing Derby County's record for the lowest point total in Premier League history.
With 58 points, Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League is now five points over Manchester City, who hold a game in hand.
Upcoming Fixtures
Arsenal
- UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan on Tuesday.
- Premier League match against Manchester United on Sunday, January 25.
- Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, 11:30 am ET.
Nottingham Forest
- UEFA Europa League match at Braga on Thursday.
- Premier League match against Brentford on Sunday, January 25.
Wolves
- Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday, 9 am ET.