Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest tomorrow at teatime. Read our detailed overview here…
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Match Preview
Mikel Arteta feels this could be a special season for Arsenal, but it will count for nothing unless they maintain their recent performance levels.
The Gunners are still fighting on four fronts: the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, in which they secured a 3-2 lead in the semi-final first leg with a 3-2 victory at Chelsea on Wednesday night.
They begin the weekend with a six-point advantage at the top of the Premier League, although that could be reduced to three by the time they kick off at Nottingham Forest tomorrow at teatime with their nearest challengers, Manchester City, playing earlier in the day.
“I think we are building very good momentum, and the confidence comes from the performances and the level of consistency that we have already shown in our 32 games this season. And what we did the other day at Stamford Bridge, that should help us to be very confident,” Arteta said.
“But the reality is you have to show it in every game and there’s still a lot to happen. But we’re happy to still be alive in all four competitions.”
Arsenal have enjoyed success this season without major summer signing Viktor Gyokeres fully fit, but the Swedish striker returned to his best in midweek, scoring at Chelsea and putting in a much-improved performance.
“He is a very demanding person, he knows the level we need and basically he really wants to achieve everything we expect from him,” Arteta said. “He tried, he was very consistent and I think against Chelsea he had a great game and scored a goal that helped us win the game.”
Gyokeres will need to produce again at the City Ground against what should be a typically physical Sean Dyche side.
Arteta said of the former Everton boss: “A top manager, really good at what he does. You can see the fingerprints of the team straight away, the way they play, the results they’ve had against some of the big teams as well, how they constantly make it difficult for you, so experienced in the league, so a very difficult game.
“Winning away in the Premier League is extremely difficult. They are a team we have beaten in recent years and we have done a lot of things to beat a very good team. With Sean they are different, very, very effective in what they do, a very clear identity and that is what makes them very dangerous.”
Dyche showed anger last Friday night after his side were knocked out of the FA Cup at the hands of Championship side Wrexham, suggesting some of his players needed to “look in the mirror”.
He will return to a more familiar line-up tomorrow as his side attempt to widen the seven-point gap between them and the bottom three.
He said: “It’s about achieving more. We were in quite a difficult position when we came here, two points from the relegation zone and now we’re seven points, so there are clear signs of change, but we want more. It’s not just about continuing to look over your shoulder. We have to be realistic but we have to want more.”
Team news for Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
Arteta said he had a doubt over an unspecified player but, apart from that, it will be the same team that was named for the match at Chelsea.
Players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Murillo, rested at Wrexham, will start for Forest while Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare will return from the AFCON. Midfielder Ryan Yates is also fit.
Predicted line-ups for Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
Nottingham Forest: Salts; Aïna, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangaré, Anderson; Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus
Arsenal: Kingdom; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Wood; Zubimendi, Riz, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: TV and online streams
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal kicks off tomorrow at 5.30pm UK time. You can watch it on Sky Sports and stream it via the Sky Go app.
If you don’t live in the UK, click HERE to find out which station might be showing the game in your area.
Statistics for Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
- Nottingham Forest have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games against Arsenal
- Only West Ham (8) and Wolves (8) have lost more home games in the Premier League this season than Forest (6)
Nottingham Forest
1
–
3
Arsenal
Arsenal are looking strong at the moment. They can outperform teams but also overpower them physically.
It could be a long afternoon for Forest.
Bet here
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