Nottinghamshire

Are Nottingham Forest's lack of goals a worry or just unlucky?

That's the question BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club have been debating after Oliver Glasner's side failed to find the back of the net at the City Ground for a fifth consecutive game in all competitions.

The unwanted run comes after owner Evangelos Marinakis splashed a club-record £50m on Chelsea striker Liam Delap, who has scored just one league goal in 2026-27.

"When he was playing for Chelsea he was doing a lot of things right, but he is paid to put the ball in the back of the net and he isn't doing that," former Manchester City centre-back Steph Houghton said. "Obviously, in seasons gone by, Nottingham Forest have heavily relied on Chris Wood to score goals.

"It seems like the team are lacking a bit of confidence when it comes to getting in the box and making that final action. It probably isn't a situation the club or its fans need at this moment in time."

The Observer's Rory Smith provided a different viewpoint, claiming that there isn't "any problem to analyse" and that the Reds' goalscoring figures "will average out".

"Nottingham Forest are fourth in the xG table, which suggests they are creating chances," Smith said.

"You could worry that Liam Delap, Chris Wood and Arnaud Kalimuendo aren't quite of the requisite quality to take those chances though, but the chances are they're just having a bit of a bad run at the moment.

"I reckon they will make up for it by having a better run relatively soon. I'm not worried about the club in any way."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Richard: In your wisdom, you sack Nuno Espirito Santo and then finish up with second-rate replacements. Is it no wonder Forest are struggling at the bottom of the table. When will owners, like ours, ever get it right?

Sean: Another battling defeat. Another loss with plenty of positives to take. Another home match we failed to score in with the amount of chances we made. It's against the league champions, so it was always going to be a tall order, but the question has to be asked. When are all these good things we're doing going to pay off?

Peter: The players gave their all to limit Arsenal to one shot on target - unfortunately, that shot took a deflection and resulted in us losing the game. But as Glasner said, the results will come and it was encouraging to see how well we defended as a team. Keep the faith.

John: Football is a cruel sport. We deserved at least a point. We didn't let them play and could/should have levelled in the last five minutes. There's no justice. We'll win games (one day) by playing worse than this. I can't fault the effort, the set-up, the invention. They're champions because they had one chance and took it. We didn't. One of these days we'll give someone a proper beating. Soon, I hope.

Arsenal fans

Matthew: Arsenal got the job done, but the performance was far from convincing. We controlled possession for long periods but lacked creativity and urgency in the final third. Against a disciplined Nottingham Forest side, we needed more quality and quicker decision-making to create clear chances. Keeping a clean sheet away from home was another positive. The biggest takeaway is that title-winning teams must find ways to win even when they are not at their best.

Trevor: Dangerous to leave it till the second half to start playing. The deflection for the goal was fortunate but, on balance, Arsenal just about deserved the win.

Philip: Nottingham Forest played well and for 80 minutes they had the edge. Madueke's goal was proof we need to do more down the left. Our moves on the right are predictable, and Saka is getting closed down far too easily. We ground out the win, but it wasn't pretty.

Rod: Eze continues to frustrate and Havertz is ineffective playing with his back to goal. Saka is attracting two defenders every match, but we seem unable to use the overload effectively. Tzolis is truly missed and Dowman deserves a start when Arsenal are misfiring so badly. Konsa is our best signing this year and Saliba will struggle to push his way into the only part of the team functioning well. Give Guimaraes time to adjust to the Arsenal heartbeat, and he'll take some of the creative pressure off of Odegaard.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to be fit for Nottingham Forest's crucial trip to Ipswich.

The England international missed Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal with a muscle injury having missed training in the week.

Gibbs-White suffered the problem in last week's loss at Crystal Palace and Forest missed his invention as they slipped to a harsh defeat against the Gunners.

It left them in the Premier League's relegation zone - and goalless and winless at home in the top flight - going into Friday's trip to Portman Road.

"He was very close to playing and he said he's fine but he felt it a little bit," said Glasner.

"In a few situations he felt his muscle and then I decided not to play him. I didn't want to take any risk and we can't allow to lose him because if it was a re-injury it was four, five, six weeks.

"That's why I decided not to play him. I think all the players did very well and I expect him being back for the Ipswich game."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It has been eight hours and 26 minutes since Nottingham Forest scored at the City Ground.

Had it not been for Ezri Konsa's excellent block to thwart Liam Delap in stoppage time, that run would have been broken but, instead, Forest are still looking for a first home goal since May.

It was only in the final few minutes against Arsenal that they really threatened, with Chris Wood having a shot blocked and Murillo shooting over.

Defeat, following Noni Madueke's deflected effort, also leaves them pointless at home and keeps Oliver Glasner's side in the Premier League's relegation zone.

"It feels very harsh, it feels unfair, but we have to accept it. We are missing some bits. The performance in many parts was very good. Giving them one shot on target, it's deflected, and we lose feels even tougher," said Glasner.

"What I take from today's game is another frustrating result, but we can be very tough to play against. In every single game we create moments where we can score.

"We will get the results we all feel we deserve."

Defeat keeps Forest in the bottom three of the Premier League ahead of Friday's trip to Ipswich.

Glasner added: "I have no doubts in what we are doing. It has proven right so often, and I am really confident we will go where we want to be. We are not there today but we will be."

Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Very tough to take, a bit of deja vu. Many things here we feel the result is unfair, but it's what stands, and it's zero points at home.

"Very good performance against the champions. We caused many problems, didn't give them a lot and, at the end, we have zero points. It's tough today. It feels a bit unfair, but on the other side it's our responsibility to not drop the head and build up on the performance and the many positive aspects.

"Feels a bit weird to have a third defeat in a row but I see progress in every game and today the effort was amazing, - it was just the result we can't be pleased with.

"Huge credit to the players, they stick to the plan, and then we had our moments and if you want to win against the champions you have to take these moments and this is what we have to work on - to take the moments.

"When I see the reaction at the end, three big opportunities in the end, many set pieces and things to improve. Eight corners, but we didn't take one and this is what we have to learn and improve, and we'll get the results we all think we deserve."

On a lack of confidence in front of goal: "I don't think so. When you see their goal, it's deflected, otherwise it's straight to the gloves of Matz Sels. You have periods in football where you feel everything going against you and then there are periods when things are on your side.

"Now it is how we deal with the situation and react as a team and just how we can change this is staying positive, sticking together and working hard. And having this coolness, not to worry too much, because I can see good performances and not good results. The results will come if the performances stay good.

"It's like the stock market - the past never tells you what happens in the future. Sometimes it takes a while - during my first year at Palace we didn't start well but we had a turnaround.

"We are playing better right now, but we also concede how competitive the Premier League is because every mistake you get punished. Today I was pleased with the team."

Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, speaking to Sky Sports: "We knew it would be a tough game, it is always against Arsenal. They have a good team.

"But we feel we can change the result, maybe a draw, maybe a win. Now we have to put it in the past and focus on the next match.

"We have a good manager and I think we are still getting his ideas. We changed everything in our system this season. It is difficult, but after three or four months we keep improving, and I think we are close to reaching our best."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games at the City Ground (D8 L6); since the first of these matches (27 December 2025), no ever-present side has won fewer home games in the competition.

• Along with Schalke 04, Nottingham Forest are one of just two sides without a home league goal in Europe's big-five leagues this season.

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