Nottinghamshire

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Nottingham Forest love having the "underdog mentality", says former striker Robert Earnshaw.

Having lost their past two Premier League games, Forest halted the recent slide with a well earned point against second-placed Arsenal on Wednesday night.

The result kept them third in the table, one point above Manchester City, and still on course for European football next season.

"It was an excellent draw, because you've got to have the bigger context, the bigger picture. Nottingham Forest are fighting for Champions League now and fighting for the title," Earnshaw told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"They will give chances to the other team, but they love this underdog mentality.

"They kind of play on the fast break a little bit and transition where they'll sit back and then just hit you with their pace and their finishing. Chris Wood had a couple of little moments [against Arsenal] where you thought, 'oh, this is it'.

"I was there for the Liverpool game a few weeks ago, at the City Ground, and you always feel like Forest will have the chance. It's just whether they can take it and, to be honest, nine times out of ten, they take it. Last night, it just wasn't to be.

"They will take that [point] and the Forest fans will take that. They understand the position that they're in, they understand where Arsenal are.

"Any more points as they go towards the end of the season now, it just takes them further and further into that Champions League spot. It just makes it stronger."

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We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's Premier League match against Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Forest fans

Luke: I think a few of the lads are off the boil compared to earlier in the season, which is understandable. So it's good to stop the rot and get another point on the board, especially with a clean sheet. Hoping that Nuno can get us back to our best for the run-in, and we can keep our fate in our own hands.

Doug: A good game for Forest - it was very important not to lose. We were solid at the back, but a bit sloppy with our passes in transition going forward. Could have nicked it at the end. Well done you Reds.

Pip: Back to the solid defensive displays we've been seeing this season, after a few games where that seemed to have slipped. Ryan Yates and Danilo made a difference in midfield when they came on. We need to keep focused on the style of play that has got us this far if we want to be in Europe next season.

Arsenal fans

James: Great performance from Arsenal with loads of energy. Dominated possession, shots, corners etc. If just one forward was available, then they'd have won this game.

David: Pathetic. A must-win game and Arsenal players barely get out of a walk. Turgid. No tempo. No chances created. Does Mikel Arteta think this is good enough? Top four at best now. Something is clearly wrong with recruitment at the club when everyone who follows football knows what is missing.

Matt: A point away at Forest, where Arsenal have lost before, to remain above Forest, would usually be seen as good.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Boss Nuno Espirito Santo believes Nottingham Forest rediscovered their best qualities in their battling draw with Arsenal.

Forest remain third and six points behind the Gunners after Wednesday's 0-0 draw at the City Ground.

It came after they conceded eight goals in their last three games, including Sunday's 4-3 defeat at Newcastle.

Arsenal dominated possession and forced Forest to defended for long spells in the City Ground's first 0-0 draw in the Premier League since 1998.

"The most important thing was to realise how we do things, how we play and our strengths. Today it was there," said Nuno.

"We were compact and didn't allow Arsenal too much. Arsenal had chances, of course, because they are a very good team. But at the same time, we were compact, solid and aggressive.

"Maybe we could have found better transition points but it is always difficult. The positive is the clean sheet and, more than anything, finding ourselves as a team again with the way we do things.

"In the last moments of the game, we were the team getting the set-pieces and the dangerous momentum. That is a positive, also."

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Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC Sport: "I'm very happy with the way we did things, the way we played against Arsenal.

"It's very difficult to play against them. They're a very good team. It requires a lot of effort. We were solid and compact. Very positive game.

"After this period we had conceding it was important to go back to basics - solid, clean sheet. We had a couple of moments to do it better. But in terms of the game, positive because it was very important to go back to the team we are that allows us to be successful.

"They have danger all over the place. Set-pieces are some of them. It requires focus. The boys did well. We prepared it.

"This is one of the main messages, more than anything, the feeling of being a team that don't concede too many chances, always in the right places, organised, balanced. Going forward we have talent.

"Our fans have been amazing for us. Today again. No legs but they give us the extra run to the players. Can't thank them enough. We have to enjoy the journey and realise it's not always possible to go with a victory. They saw a good team a team who competed very well."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Forest's performance

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Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action

• Brentford v Everton

• Man Utd v Ipswich

• Nottingham Forest v Arsenal

• Tottenham v Man City

• Liverpool v Newcastle (20:15)

All kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

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Football fans want to see the "status quo challenged" as Nottingham Forest try and secure European football, says supporter Ben Marshall.

The Reds have gone from a relegation fight last season to the top three of the Premier League, three points clear of Manchester City in fifth. However, that spot could be enough to secure Champions League football next campaign with England leading Uefa's coefficient table for an additional place.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side host Arsenal on Wednesday night as they look to strengthen their position in the race for European football.

"We are still in the pinching ourselves phase," Marshall told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast. "To have gone from being in relegation scraps for the last couple of years, to be even contemplating the possibility of European football, let alone Champions League football is surreal.

"I think the whole city is still in a bit of shock, but all enjoying it while we can. Football is game of fine margins and we know it can change very quickly. The performances have been worthy of the European places, so we just hope we can get it over the line.

"In the bigger picture of football, it is great to see teams who are not part of the 'big six' doing well. There is a lot of people who would just like to see the status quo challenged. It is good for football and it gives people hope that their team might go on to succeed and compete at the very top of English football.

"There is a real belief we can be in Europe next season. I have preemptively cleared my diary for Thursdays next season."

Saturday's home defeat by West Ham was a real hammer blow for Arsenal's title hopes.

They need to bounce back and find a way of beating Nottingham Forest, but this is a tough trip after such a devastating result, and I am not so sure they will take the points here either.

Forest are not in great form themselves, and got a bit of a walloping at Newcastle. Nuno Espirito Santo was clearly unhappy with some of his side's defending in that game.

But how are Arsenal going to score goals? I don't know at the moment.

If Gunners boss Mikel Arteta needs a left-back, he has got a few of them on the bench. Unfortunately he needs a centre-forward, and there is not one of those to be seen.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Former Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies says Reds fans should get their "passports ready" for European football next season.

Davies had two spells at Forest boss more than a decade ago, having previously guided their fierce East Midlands rivals Derby County to promotion to the Premier League.

The 60-year-old got Forest to the Championship play-offs twice in his first stint at the City Ground, with his second spell ending after a 5-0 defeat by Derby which left the Reds sitting just outside the top six in March 2014.

Now more than a decade on, Forest are in their third successive season back in the Premier League, and have been transformed from relegation battlers to European hopefuls under boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Despite three defeats in their past four league games, the Reds remain third in the table and in the hunt for a return to European football for the first time in almost three decades.

"Forest fans, enjoy it and get your European passports ready," Davies told BBC East Midlands Today.

"Nuno has come in and done a great job. We have now seen the benefit of the £400m spent and wonderful support from the owner."

Davies was back in Nottingham earlier this month for an 'evening with' show that included former members of his backroom staff, as well players who featured under him at Forest – including Wes Morgan and Lee Camp.

BBC East Midlands Today also spoke to a number of fans about their memories of the Scot and his time with Forest.

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Arsenal won this fixture 2-1 last season, but have not won consecutive away league games against Nottingham Forest since a run of four between 1987 and 1990.