Arsenal let slip a golden opportunity to establish a commanding nine-point advantage at the Premier League summit after being held to a drab goalless draw by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this evening.
The league leaders arrived in the East Midlands having watched title rivals Manchester City suffer a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United earlier in the day, a result that extended City's winless run in the league to four matches.
Victory would have put significant daylight between Mikel Arteta's side and their closest challengers, yet the Gunners could only manage a single point against Sean Dyche's battling outfit.
The result extends Arsenal's lead to seven points, though Aston Villa could reduce that gap to four with victory over Everton on Sunday.
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Arteta's decision to leave Saka on the bench proved costly as his side produced a toothless attacking display for much of the contest.
The England winger was named among the substitutes following the midweek Carabao Cup victory at Chelsea, with Arteta citing the need for freshness ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Inter Milan.
The Spaniard explained before kick-off: "We have a lot of games, so freshness. The capacity as well to change the game in any moment."
However, the gamble backfired spectacularly as Arsenal failed to trouble goalkeeper Matz Sels until Saka's introduction in the 57th minute.
Arsenal let slip a golden opportunity to establish a commanding nine-point advantage at the Premier League summit
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The visitors took eight shots during a dire opening period without finding the target, their most wayward first-half performance since Arteta's debut match against Bournemouth in December 2019.
Within two minutes of entering the fray, Saka had created Arsenal's first shot on target when his cross found Declan Rice.
Gabriel Martinelli squandered the clearest opportunity of a frustrating evening midway through the first half.
After Noni Madueke's deflected effort fell kindly to the Brazilian at the far post, he somehow steered his shot wide from barely three yards out when it appeared easier to score.
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The result extends Arsenal's lead to seven points
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The miss proved costly, and Arteta withdrew Martinelli at half-time, replacing him with Leandro Trossard.
Forest goalkeeper Sels was the difference in the second half, producing a string of impressive stops to preserve his clean sheet.
His finest moment came when Rice's cross picked out Saka, whose looping header appeared destined for the top corner before the Belgian dived full stretch to tip the ball around the post.
Sels also denied Rice with a sharp save to his left and kept out a Merino header that nearly allowed Gabriel Jesus to tap home.
England international Elliot Anderson was outstanding throughout the game
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The closing stages brought controversy when VAR reviewed a potential handball against Ola Aina inside the Forest penalty area, with replays showing the ball striking the defender's arm as he attempted to shepherd it out of play near the byline.
However, officials at Stockley Park determined that Aina's arm was in a natural position, ruling against awarding Arsenal a spot-kick despite the visitors' protests.
Forest's stubborn rearguard, marshalled superbly by England international Elliot Anderson, ultimately earned a deserved share of the spoils.
The midfielder was outstanding throughout, winning more duels, making more ball recoveries and winning more fouls than any of his teammates before half-time.
The draw ended Arsenal's five-match winning streak on the road and leaves Dyche's side five points above the relegation zone following West Ham's earlier victory at Tottenham.
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