Arsenal resume their Premier League duties on Tuesday evening when they travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners have lost their way a bit in the title race following just one win in five games, dropping to third in the table as a result. They are five points off league leaders Liverpool heading into the game in the Midlands.
Mikel Arteta’s side will be aiming to build on their comfortable 5-0 home thrashing of Crystal Palace last time out in the Premier League when they face Nottingham Forest, who suffered a 3-2 away loss to Brentford.
Arsenal Team News
Despite the impressive win over Crystal Palace 10 days back, Arsenal were handed two injury concerns that have caused major concerns. Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes both left the action at the Emirates Stadium with a thigh injury and knock respectively, and the pair haven’t been spotted in training since then, sparking concerns they could miss the trip to Nottingham Forest.
Thomas Partey is back in full training but is not fit enough for game time yet, while Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still competing for glory with their countries.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Nottingham Forest (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya will be aiming to keep back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League when Arsenal travel to Forest on Tuesday.
Defence
In all likelihood, Mikel Arteta could name the same back four that started in the Gunners’ 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace. Gabriel Magalhaes hopes to shake off a knock and join William Saliba at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, while Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White should keep their places at full-back.
The Arsenal backline must stay focused and disciplined throughout the game to keep Forest’s attackers quiet.
Midfield
Declan Rice could keep his place in the No.6 role, provided he has fully recovered from a potential hamstring scare. Alternatively, the Gunners have Jorginho to replace Rice, especially if Arteta thinks the England international is not fully fit to start at the City Ground.
Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz should operate as the No.8s again, looking to get into pockets of spaces in between the Forest midfielders and using their creativity and flair to unlock the defence.
Attack
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus appear like certain starters in the Arsenal attack, but Arteta has to decide between Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank. Trossard had a good game against Palace and scored, while Martinelli came off the bench and sealed the deal with a fine late brace.
Going by Arteta’s decision to start Trossard and the plan working, the Belgian should get the nod ahead of Martinelli again.
