Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Lineups

Nottingham Forest host Arsenal at The City Ground on Sunday, October 18 (11:30 AM ET / 10:30 AM CT / 8:30 AM PT).

Nottingham Forest remain without sidelined defenders Nikola Milenkovic and Nicolo Savona, both out with knee injuries, and sidelined striker Igor Jesus, who is dealing with a calf problem, leaving Liam Delap as the central out-ball alongside attacking midfielder Dan Ndoye, who has scored 2 goals this season, and Morgan Gibbs-White, who leads the squad with 17 chances created. Arsenal travel without sidelined defender William Saliba, out with a lower back injury, and sidelined winger Christos Tzolis, out with a thigh issue, while doubtful Piero Hincapie Reyna carries an ankle problem; Bukayo Saka leads the visitors’ attack with 3 goals from 17 shots, backed by Kai Havertz’s 2 goals and Declan Rice’s 3 assists from midfield.

This looks a cagey afternoon at the City Ground. Forest have taken just 5 points from 6 games and carry a -3 goal difference, numbers that point to a side still searching for control rather than holding it, while Arsenal arrive on 15 points from 6 games having won 5 of them. Expect a tight, low-event contest in which chances are rationed and a single moment of quality for the visitors is enough to settle it.

US viewers can watch Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal on NBC and Peacock.

Season Form & Standings

Nottingham Forest have taken just 5 points from 6 games this season, with 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses leaving them on a -3 goal difference. Arsenal have been far more consistent, picking up 15 points from 6 games with 5 wins and a +5 goal difference.

Premier League

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Potential Match-Winners

• Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest): The attacking midfielder has created a team-high 17 chances and chipped in with 2 assists and a goal across 540 minutes, Forest’s clearest route to goal.
• Liam Delap (Nottingham Forest): The striker has fired 14 shots for 1 goal this season, the focal point of a Forest attack short on end product.
• Bukayo Saka (Arsenal): The attacking midfielder has 3 goals and 10 shots on target from 17 attempts, Arsenal’s most direct goal threat on the road.

Recent Form

Nottingham Forest: D D W L L

• 2026-10-11: Crystal Palace 3-1 Nottingham Forest (L, away)
• 2026-09-19: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Coventry City (L, home)
• 2026-09-12: Aston Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest (W, away)
• 2026-09-05: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Tottenham (D, home)
• 2026-08-29: Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest (D, away)

Forest’s last 5 in the league have read draw, draw, win, loss, loss: a 2-2 draw at Liverpool, a 0-0 draw with Tottenham, a 2-1 win at Aston Villa, a 0-1 loss to Coventry City, and a 3-1 loss at Crystal Palace.

Arsenal: W W W L W

• 2026-10-10: Arsenal 2-1 Leeds (W, home)
• 2026-09-19: Brighton 3-0 Arsenal (L, away)
• 2026-09-12: Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal (W, away)
• 2026-09-06: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (W, home)
• 2026-08-31: Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal (W, away)

Arsenal’s last 5 in the league have read win, win, win, loss, win: wins away at Aston Villa (0-1) and at home to Chelsea (2-1) and Sunderland (0-2), a 3-0 loss at Brighton, and a 2-1 home win over Leeds.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Prediction

Forest’s 5 points from 6 games and -3 goal difference make them hard to back at home, even with Dan Ndoye and Morgan Gibbs-White offering spells of quality. Arsenal, sitting on 15 points from 6 games with 5 wins, should have enough control to make the tight margins count. Expect a tense, low-scoring afternoon at the City Ground that finishes Nottingham Forest 0-1 Arsenal.