Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Preview: Team News & Prediction
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About a month ago it was the case that these two were part of a three-team title race, now as we head into the spring neither of them are realistic challengers to champions-elect Liverpool.
Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 26th February, 2025: UK – 7:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 11:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – TNT Sports app / US – Peacock
Nottingham Forest Preview: Frustrating form
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest will be grateful for just how good their form was across the winter because their recent form hasn’t quite been bad enough to see them slip out of the top three ahead of this midweek match day.
The home team took the lead against Newcastle United before going 4-1 down before half-time and then fighting back to a 4-3 loss. That defeat at St James’ Park means they have managed just two victories inside 90 minutes in their last seven matches across all competitions.
Arsenal Preview: A dagger from the Hammers
Attacking injuries, and some generally widely accepted poor transfer business, as well as a shift to a more reactive style of football, has left Arsenal frustrating to watch in an attacking sense and they were blunt once again at the weekend.
In a London derby against struggling West Ham United, Jarrod Bowen’s first-half strike was enough to separate the two sides at the Emirates Stadium to leave Arsenal 11 points adrift of eague leaders Liverpool ahead of the 27th match day of the campaign.
Nottingham Forest Team News: Some knocks
As ever, Nuno has been quite discreet with regards to injuries for Nottingham Forest. He has suggested he has to assess some knocks but didn't confirm who. Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel remains injured but there are no other confirmed injury absentees ahead of the visit of Arsenal.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Unavailable: Miguel (Injured)
Questionable:
Arsenal Team News: Nwaneri fit but MLS suspended
After being substituted at the weekend, Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Ethan Nwaneri is available for this one having just been dealing with cramp against West Ham. They will, though, now be without Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is missing through suspension, whilst key men such as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus remain unavailable due to injury.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling
Unavailable: Tomiyasu (Injured), Lewis-Skelly (Suspended), Havertz (Injured), Martinelli (Injured), Saka (Injured), Jesus (Injured)
Questionable:
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Prediction
Nottingham Forest have built their relative success this season on an excellent defensive structure and centre-back partnership between Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic laying a platform for a genuinely exciting and effective counter-attacking front four. They will simply cede possession and territory to Arsenal at the City Ground this weekend and that may well suit Nuno’s slightly out of form side so a double chance bet in favour of Forest may well be the way to go for this one.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Tip: Double chance – Nottingham Forest to win or draw
