Premier League report, score, goals

Arsenal moved seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League but were held to their second straight Premier League draw by a stalemate against fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest at The City Ground.

Goalkeeper Matz Sels pounced to push back Arsenal reserve Bukayo Saka’s curling header during the second half in a game of few big chances, including a first half without an attempt on target.

Matz Sels with a brilliant save to deny Bukayo Saka 🧤@tntsports and @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/3SczvuCAKo

— TNT Sports Football (@footballontnt) January 17, 2026

Forest manager Sean Dyche and Gunners counterpart Mikel Arteta had predictably opposing views on the video assistant referee’s decision in favor of Ola Aina with 10 minutes remaining, ruling that the home defender had failed in his own half.

Arsenal visit Italian leaders Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) and host Manchester United in the Championship on Sunday (16:30), while the next game is against Portugal’s Braga in the Europa League on Thursday (20:00) before visiting Brentford on Sunday (2:00).

You can see live text and stats updates as they happened from Forest v Arsenal here.

VAR rejects appeals for handball by Ola Aina ❌@tntsports and @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/a4zrd9egck

— TNT Sports Football (@footballontnt) January 17, 2026

Forest v Arsenal: Premier League leaders miss chance

Arteta’s substitutions suggested the Spaniard was unimpressed with his strike force, starting with the substitution of Gabriel Martinelli for Leandro Trossard at half-time.

Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus and Saka then came on for Nonny Madueke, Victor Gökeres and Martin Odegaard 12 minutes later, with Arteta perhaps keen to have Kai Havertz – who remained an unused substitute – closer to full fitness as the Germany international continues his return from injury.

With City losing 2-0 to Manchester United earlier on Saturday, the happiest contender with the day’s results could be Aston Villa, who will go three points clear of the City’s and four behind Arsenal if they win their game against Everton on Sunday (4.30pm).

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare returned from his 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Ivory Coast, but defender Willie Boley, who was also part of the squad, was not in the home side.

Omari Hutchinson made his way to Sangare in a 2-1 win against West Ham on January 6.

Goalkeeper John Victor and striker Chris Wood (both with a knee) remain out. Midfielder Ryan Yates was on the bench with a hamstring problem.

Nottingham Forest starting XI: Marillo, Neko Williams, Neko

Forest substitutes: Antus Gunn, Morato, Morato, Taiwo Aonii, Douglas Luiz, Dan Ndoye, Omari Hutchinson, Ryan Yates, James McKeith, Niccolo Savona

Arsenal team vs Forest

Goalkeeper David Raya and Madueke and Martinelli featured as Arsenal made three changes from their 3-2 win over Chelsea in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final last Wednesday.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Saka and Trossard moved to the bench. Winger Max Dowman was out with an ankle injury, but defender Cristian Mosquera returned to the reserves after the same problem.

Full-back Ricardo Calafiori is out with an unspecified problem and defender Piero Hincapier has a hamstring problem.

Arsenal starting XI: David Ra Ray and William, William, Gabriel Magallas, Martin Odetin, Martin, Zuban and Rice, Neunke

Arsenal Reserves: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Mosquera, Bucayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Miles Lewis-Skelley

« It’s not like my time! »

Of course Sean Dyche wears shorts in the middle of winter 🥶🤣

🎙️ @lynseyhipgrave1 | 📺 @tntsports and @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ccOG5NmzR6

— TNT Sports Football (@footballontnt) January 17, 2026

Forest v Arsenal stats

• Forest have lost eight of their last 11 Premier League games against Arsenal
• All three shutouts came at the City Ground following their return to the division in 2022 (1-0 in May 2023, 0-0 in February 2025, 0-0 in January 2026)
• Forest have lost six of their 11 Premier League home games this season (W3 D1), one more than they lost at the City Ground all of last season (W9 D5 L5)
• Forest have also conceded more goals at home this season (17) than in 2024/25 (16)
• Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four Premier League games against Nottingham Forest, their longest league clean sheet against the Tricky Trees
• Arsenal fail to score in back-to-back league games for third time since 2022/23
• Each time this has happened, the third leg has come at Nottingham Forest (May 2023, February 2025, January 2026)
• The Gunners are the only team not to have trailed by at least two goals in a Premier League game this season, most recently at Liverpool last May
• Forest manager Sean Dyche has never seen his side score more than once in a Premier League game against Arsenal, scoring eight goals in 20 appearances
• The Englishman has won two of those 20 games, with Burnley in December 2020 and Everton in February 2023.
• Morgan Gibbs-White is one goal or assist away from becoming the first Forest player to register 50 Premier League goals (22 goals, 27 assists)

Premier League results and fixtures this weekend

Saturday’s action began with goals from Brian Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu in United’s first home game since the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.

All matches start at 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT unless otherwise stated.

Saturday, January 17

Man United 2-0 Man City

Chelsea 2-0 Brentford

Leeds United 1-0 Fulham

Liverpool 1-1 Burnley

Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace

Tottenham 1-2 West Ham

Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal

Sunday, January 18

Wolves v Newcastle (2pm)

Aston Villa v Everton (4.30pm)

Monday, January 19

Brighton & Hove Albion v Bournemouth (8pm)