Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest – Match Preview and Team News

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The Football Faithful

·23 November 2024

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest – Match Preview and Team News

Arsenal host Nottingham Forest this weekend as they search for their first Premier League win since the start of October.

The Gunners and Forest both have identical league records but Mikel Arteta’s side are one position ahead in fourth due to having a superior goal difference.

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Nottingham Forest have been the surprise package in the Premier League this term as they find themselves in fifth despite being one of the bookmakers’ favourites to go down at the start of the campaign.

The hosts will be without the services of Ben White until after the New Year due to the defender undergoing minor knee surgery. Riccardo Calafiori is expected to feature after spending a few weeks out with a knee injury.

The only notable absentees for Forest are midfielders Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare, while head coach Nuno Espirito Santo said he is “managing some players”.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest – Match Preview and Team News

Form

Arsenal: DWLLD

It has been a testing period for Arsenal over the past month with the Gunners squad sustaining numerous injuries.

Their last league triumph was a 3-1 win over bottom of the table Southampton in early October. Since then they have been defeated by Bournemouth and Newcastle on the road.

Those losses, alongside stalemates with Chelsea and Arne Slot’s Liverpool, have seen Mikel Arteta’s side fall nine points adrift of the top of the table.

However, the Gunners did progress into the last eight of the Carabao Cup after comfortably dispatching Preston North End.

Nottingham Forest: DWWWL

Forest’s 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle prior to the international break was only their second loss in what has otherwise been a dazzling campaign.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s team will arrive at the Emirates full of confidence as they are currently unbeaten on their travels having won three games and drawn twice.

There have been some memorable results in that run, including denying Chelsea and Brighton from securing all three points at home.

Impressively, they are the only side to inflict defeat on league leaders Liverpool this campaign.

Forest talisman Chris Wood has been in scintillating form and only Erling Haaland has scored more than his eight league goals.

Last Meeting

Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal, Premier League, 30th January 2024

Arsenal were victorious the last time the two sides went to battle, as they conquered Forest at the City Ground.

The visitors dominated proceedings in the first period, but the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe couldn’t provide the telling touch to breach former Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner’s net.

The second half followed a similar pattern as they continued to threaten with Jesus smashing the upright.

The Brazilian would eventually break the deadlock as a quick throw from Oleksandr Zinchenko released the 26-year-old who managed to fire the ball past Turner from an acute angle.

The goalscorer would then turn provider for Bukayo Saka who made no mistake with his low finish into the corner.

Forest would make their mark late on as Taiwo Awoniyi spun William Saliba before slotting the ball past David Raya in the last minute of normal time.

But the goal would prove to just be a consolation as the Gunners deservedly clinched all three points.

Predicted Lineups

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori; Rice, Merino; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Havertz.

Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.

Who is the referee?

Simon Hooper will be the match official. He will be assisted by Adrian Holmes and Simon Long while Dean Whitestone will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Darren England and he will be assisted by Marc Perry.

What TV channel will Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest be on?

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest will not be televised in the United Kingdom due to the 3pm blackout. It will broadcast live in the Republic of Ireland on Premier Sports.