'Unquestionable character' - Mikel Arteta jumps to Arsenal players' defence despite title hopes going up in smoke in damaging Nottingham Forest draw

The Gunners were held to a stalemate at the City Ground and are now 13 points behinds leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, which if they were to win would leave them 10 matches to make up 10 points. Despite their chances of a first Premier League trophy since 2004 now looking remote, Arteta insists he still sees fight in his team.

Arsenal fans will really reflect on last weekend, when they lost to West Ham as Liverpool beat Man City, as the weekend when top spot was put beyond their reach. Losing even more ground on the Reds this midweek only makes things worse as Premier League action takes a break for the FA Cup.

Speaking to the media after the goalless draw, Arteta said: "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. It was a 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. It was the same a week ago, two weeks ago, three months ago. The only thing we can do is win our matches and see how many points we get."

Arsenal now have six days off before they play PSV in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie onTuesday, before they head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United the following Sunday.