When asked earlier this week if he was ready to concede the title to Liverpool, who had moved 11 points clear of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta responded defiantly, saying, “Over my dead body.” However, after a disappointing goalless draw with Nottingham Forest, he might want to reconsider such bold declarations, as Arsenal’s title challenge now resembles a lifeless endeavor.

The reality is becoming clear: Arsenal are ex-contenders. Their hopes effectively died after losing to West Ham at home, while Liverpool triumphed over Manchester City the following day. This lackluster performance against a team trailing them by six points further illustrated Arsenal’s collapse.

Arsenal has developed a habit of faltering at critical moments, with their motto seemingly becoming “close but no cigar.” This season, they have not even been close, often found wanting in crucial situations. The team appeared toothless in attack, failing to match their manager’s bravado. Their poor recruitment has left them unable to cope with the absences of key players like Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, and lacking a single striker is a glaring oversight for a team with aspirations of success.

Liverpool’s match against Newcastle began later but quickly highlighted that Arsenal’s 11-point deficit to Arne Slot’s side would only widen. Mikel Merino, again leading the line for Arsenal, struggled to find the breakthrough, while Martin Odegaard’s efforts to inspire the team fell short.

Both teams played as though they were resigned to their fates, engaging in damage limitation rather than pushing for victory. The battle for second place seems to be their only remaining contention, with both sides appearing to have run out of steam.

In the match’s early moments, Arsenal found a bit of satisfaction when Nikola Milenkovic was booked for obstructing Gabriel during a free kick, showcasing some consistency from referee Andrew Madley. However, aside from Gibbs-White’s inventive play, the match lacked excitement until midway through the first half.

Forest appealed for a penalty after Callum Hudson-Odoi evaded Riccardo Calafiori’s challenge, but the referee waved it away. Calafiori then came close to scoring at the other end, hitting the post with a curling shot. That, however, marked the end of goalmouth action in the first half.

Ethan Nwaneri continued to impress, but Arsenal’s struggles were evident as they looked like a team lacking a proper striker. Meanwhile, Chris Wood found himself largely contained by Gabriel, highlighting the need for a spark in the game.

Five minutes into the second half, makeshift forward Mikel Merino nearly provided that spark, powering a header from a Declan Rice corner, only for Matz Sels to palm it away. Unfortunately, the second half followed the same pattern as the first—a war of attrition with little inspiration.

Arteta’s usual intensity was subdued, and in a rare moment of disbelief at a referee’s decision, he managed to share a smile with Nuno Espirito Santo. Wood had a potential opportunity late in the game, thanks to Gibbs-White’s efforts, but was denied by a brilliant tackle from William Saliba and a subsequent offside call.

Overall, this match served as a sobering reminder for Arsenal as they face the reality of their dwindling title aspirations, while Nottingham Forest worked hard to secure a valuable point.