Matz Sels punches air after Forest 0-0 with Arsenal as striker need highlighted | OneFootball

Matz Sels punched the air as he left the City Ground after a superb display that secured Nottingham Forest a 0-0 against Arsenal. Declan Rice’s X-rated outburst at full-time showed how frustrated the visitors were, and how valuable the point was.

According to Nottingham Post, the result felt like a significant step for Forest in their fight to avoid relegation trouble, with a little over two weeks left of the January window and a striker still needed.

In the first half Forest appealed when Callum Hudson-Odoi was felled on the edge of the box, but replays indicated the contact was outside.

For much of the game Sels had little to do, then he produced three fine stops in quick succession, denying Rice, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus to preserve the clean sheet.

With 10 minutes left VAR checked a possible handball against Ola Aina, but officials ruled the ball first struck his shoulder and that his arm was in a natural position. Mikel Arteta was not impressed, yet a penalty would have been harsh.

Back from international duty, Ibrahim Sangare brought calm and control in midfield, allowing Elliot Anderson to impress. Sean Dyche had previously preferred John Victor until injury, but Sels looked every inch the No.1 here, while the late switch to winger Dan Ndoye for Igor Jesus underlined the need for a centre-forward.

Source: Nottingham Post