Mikel Arteta conceded his injury-ravaged Arsenal attack lacked a spark, but he remained defiant about the Gunners' title hopes despite their 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest.

With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the rest of the season, and with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka also sidelined, Arteta sent out another makeshift front three on Wednesday. 

Mikel Merino led the line, with Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard either side, but the Gunners were unable to penetrate one of the division's sternest defences. 

Indeed, Arsenal have now failed to score in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since May 2023.

The Gunners registered just a single shot on target for the third time this season in the Premier League, having also done so against Bournemouth in October and Newcastle United in November.

For context, Arsenal managed a maximum of one shot on target in three games in total across the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns (once in each season).

Arsenal are now 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, who beat Newcastle United 2-0 at Anfield. 

Arteta said he would continue to fight for the title, but the Reds now win the 2024-25 Premier League crown in 98.7% of the Opta supercomputer simulations, to Arsenal's 1.3%.

"It is the same as a week ago, two weeks, three months ago," Arteta said on Arsenal's title hopes. "The only thing we can do is win our matches and see how many points we get.

"We have dropped two points and it is painful. It doesn't feel good because we're here to win. We showed unquestionable character in how much we wanted it and tried.

"We dominated. We tried in many different ways. We insisted but lacked that spark, that final pass to unlock a well-organised team. We have to generate more shots on target."

Despite failing to score for a second successive game, Arteta said the performance against Forest was better than the one against West Ham, which he said made him "angry."

"Very different standard [to the West Ham defeat]," Arteta said. "We defended with energy, purpose, fight, willingness to make things happen.

"It wasn't because we lacked that. We tried until the end but weren't able to do it."

Arsenal take on Manchester United in their next league outing.