Mikel Arteta revealed he is feeling the pain of Arsenal's disappearing title challenge after they slipped 13 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The Gunners could only draw 0-0 at Nottingham Forest and though Arteta insisted they had improved greatly from the home defeat by West Ham last weekend, once more his side failed to step up under pressure.
In a game of few chances, Mikel Merino and Kieran Tierney went close for Arsenal while Forest's top scorer Chris Wood forced an important save from David Raya.
Though Arteta did not concede the title, his reference to Arsenal's Champions League campaign felt telling.
'We have a beautiful competition in front of us and we need to do it against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday,' said Arteta. 'We are very disappointed not to win this game but it's about what we can do now.
'We showed energy and willingness to make things happen but lacked quality in the final pass and the delivery to win it. We dropped two points again and it's very painful.'
After a recent wobble of three defeats in four games, Forest rediscovered the defensive solidity that has been the bedrock of their performances this term. They remain third in the table, a point clear of Manchester City, who visit the City Ground on March 8.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo added: 'We know our strengths and we were compact, solid and aggressive. In the last moments of the game we were getting dangerous momentum, which was also a positive.'
Bokacdilot
0
Lol
Hobckmopuy
1
This Arteta talk too much
Renblmrty
1
your season is over ,coming empty handed
Cihdeikloy
1
Just get any striker we need a focus point.
Tawdimsuyz
0
boi boi dat ARSENAL CLUB and BOARD is pure EMBARRASMENT to me its painful 5 years cant get a TEACUP? AWAH WI
kkkkkkkkkkk yaba
vunadkno
0
your please sack Arteta he is not good coach many years now arsenal always to second place the same problem your please look experience coach
nimbciny
0
Arsenal latest blow is as result Arsenal owner Kroenke and you Arteta refused to buy additional player's , much as striker goals scoring machine and right and left winger
did Liverpool buy any
jiobdmpru
0
Please fight to the end ask you said few week ago.. Arsenal will all drop point in the rest matches
deccdims
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Arsenal latest blow is as result Arsenal owner Kroenke and you Arteta refused to buy additional player's , much as striker goals scoring machine and right and left winger
Moebloprtz
0
boi boi dat ARSENAL CLUB and BOARD is pure EMBARRASMENT to me its painful 5 years cant get a TEACUP? AWAH WI
Zuwabesz
2
You punished Manchester City and thought you had won EPL league. it's PAY back time. you have difficult matches ahead Stay HUMBLE Corner F.C
wekabiopry
1
Arteta is just a failure....his continuous same mistakes season in and out fir the past four years of letting importance players go and fail to replace them as well as have back up plans in times like this is something this idiot hasn't been doing. He sold Nketiah and still couldn't replace him but instead relied so much on Jesus,an injury prone player and havertz who isn't even a natural striker. Congratulations to slot for winning the league in his first season as a Liverpool coach...this shows that slot is a much better coach than arteta. What an embarrassing thing for arteta and arsenal for failing to win the league because of a bad coach we have in mikel. Shame
Tekabekmny
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I pray you Arteta and Arsenal will lose more matches for you to get more pains for your sturboness.
dabbilnosu
1
not yet painful but more is still coming bcs Chelsea and Man u no go gree for you and others club so that you can be more humble
Lidbeklruy
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i suppose its very painful to you , players and fans but the bosses doesn't care about that because they , then they should have given you money to sign a prolific striker who will score goals for the team to win something this season
Lidbeklruy
0
its painful because your bosses failed to support you sign the striker you wanted in january and that is where we lost the league knowing very well you have not even a single striker but fails to get one at the right time