Forest boss Dyche lauds ‘Rolls-Royce’ Anderson

Sean Dyche called Elliot Anderson a “Rolls-Royce” following the midfielder’s performance in Nottingham Forest’s goalless draw against Arsenal.

Forest frustrated the Premier League leaders for large parts of the clash at the City Ground, though they were also let off the hook when Gabriel Martinelli failed to convert into an open net.

It was Forest’s first 0-0 draw in the Premier League since February last year, which was also at home against Arsenal.

Nevertheless, Anderson was at his very best for Forest again. As well as recording the most touches (75) and passes completed (37) for his side, Anderson also won 12 of his 15 duels, including 100% of his aerial battles (five), and won possession seven times.

And Dyche felt the England international set the tone in a dogged display.

He told BBC Match of the Day: “It’s not easy playing these sides, the commitment is different.

“There’s the commitment to score a goal of course, but what about the commitment to the shape, the basics, the hard yards of the game? And I thought we did that fantastically well as a group.

“I thought Elliot Anderson was a Rolls-Royce today, him and Callum Hudson-Odoi. I thought Nicolas Dominguez off the ball, the stuff us manager’s love, from his shape and his diligence.

The City Ground atmosphere this evening.

Thank you for your support, Reds. pic.twitter.com/7nYDBBiFfs

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) January 17, 2026

“Among others, but Ibrahim Sangare gives us that little bit of solid feel, he know what position to be in and allows Elliot to be a little bit freer and loser.

“There’s a lot of good things here. We’ve just taken four points against some top sides in that run. We’ve played Manchester City, Villa away, these are tough games. So I’m pleased we’ve come away with another point.”

A major talking point occurred in the 80th minute when the ball appeared to strike Ola Aina on the arm in the box, though it was deemed to have touched his shoulder first before hitting his arm, which was in a natural position.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta felt it was a “clear penalty”, but Dyche had a very different view.

“I think if these start to get given we’ve all got to leave it. I think that’s ridiculous. We’ve got to be careful with those,” Dyche told TNT Sports.

“You may as well cancel football if you’re going to give that. The rules have to be careful. You know what they should be looking at, people feigning injury. That’s the new diving.

“I wouldn’t worry about the handballs. Cancel football if that handball is given.”