Mikel Arteta explains Calafiori substitution and provides update on Saka and Martinelli fitness | OneFootball

Arsenal have dropped more points tonight, this time against Nottingham Forest, and with the gap to Liverpool now 13 points it seems perhaps insurmountable.

Mikel Arteta has seen his side struggle without a striker now for two games, both of which they have dropped points in. Mikel Merino played up front against Leicester and it worked a treat, with the Spaniard bagging twice, but it did not work against West Ham and it did not work tonight.

Arteta took off Riccardo Calafiori in the 46th minute, and explained: “I took him off because he had a yellow and he had one or two situations against Hudson-Odoi. We could not play again with 10 men.”

The 42-year-old also provided updates on the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinell. When asked if either could be back before next month’s international break, he said: “I don’t think so….. (But) Gabby has a chance to come in before Bukayo.”

Although it was a frustrating performance, Arteta insisted his side tried everything they could: “[We showed] unquestionable character, how much we wanted it and tried.

“We dominated the game. 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.

“Very different standard [to the West Ham defeat]. 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.”

This draw means the gap to Liverpool is now 13 points and it will take a small miracle for the Gunners to lay their hands on the title. But Arteta isn’t ready to give up just yet: “The only thing we can do is win our matches and see how many points we get.”