Arsenal will be looking to keep hold of their lead at the top of the Premier League table when they travel to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 5:30pm.
The Gunners drew with Liverpool last time out in the league but remain six points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Mikel Arteta’s side are unbeaten in their past six league games and 10 across all competitions, winning eight. But they will be wary of an interesting fact.
Arsenal have only failed to score in consecutive league games twice since the start of 2022-23. But on both occasions, the second game came away to Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal team news vs Nottingham Forest
Arteta played as full-strength a team as possible in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Chelsea in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. But he may opt to rotate slightly, with a tough fixture list coming up.
There aren’t too many changes Arsenal can make to their defence, with the Gunners still suffering for injuries. Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie are all unavailable due to injury, with the extent of the latter’s layoff still be determined.
So Gabriel and William Saliba should continue at centre-back, flanked by Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly. David Raya should return in goal after Kepa Arrizabalaga started in midweek.
- Enhanced Offers
- Request A Bet Feature
- Vast selection of sports markets
#AD 18+ New customers only. £5 minimum deposit. Place a £10 qualifying bet on any market. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 1 x £5 bet token. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non-withdrawable. 30 day free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply.
We may see a change in midfield too. Declan Rice is often the man rested when Arteta can afford to rotate, and Mikel Merino could come in to replace him. Christian Norgaard will also look for a start, but Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard may keep hold of their spots.
There may also be changes in attack. Viktor Gyokeres should lead the line, with Arteta needing to build on the momentum of his goal in midweek. But Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke could come in on the flanks to replace Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka, respectively.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are other central options, should Gyokeres be rested. Eberechi Eze could also come in if Arteta wants a slight change in system.
Arsenal’s tough run
Nottingham Forest may not be the most formidable of opponents. But Arsenal will not want to take them for granted. Especially given the fact that Arsenal have won just one of their past three league games at the City Ground. That includes a goalless draw last season.
Arsenal then face Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek, looking to keep their perfect run going. The Gunners have already secured at least a seeded spot in the play-offs, but will want to wrap up a direct last-16 spot.
Arteta’s men then face Manchester United in the Premier League, who will be a bit of an unknown entity under Michael Carrick. Then it’s two perhaps more favourable games against Kairat and Leeds United, before the return leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.