Arsenal host Nottingham Forest at the Emirates as Premier League play resumes after the international break. Even though it’s just four matches into the season, it’s an important match for both sides. Arsenal really can’t afford to drop back-to-back games, especially with Manchester City and @Newcastle next on the schedule. Forest have just sacked Nuno Espirito Santo and appointed Ange Postecoglou — they need to get off to a good start under a new manager.
Forest are an unimpressive 1-1-1 to open
the season. They beat a poor Brentford side, drew an Eze-less Crystal Palace, and lost embarrassingly to West Ham 3-0 at home. They’ve not played well, which coupled with Nuno’s feud with Evangelos Marinakis and Edu at Forest, sealed his fate. It’ll be interesting to see how a roster built to play Nuno’s structured, deep-sitting, and counterattacking style fares playing Big Ange’s high-line.
Arsenal need three points at home — to keep pace at the top of the Premier League and not fall too far behind the eight-ball, to bank points with difficult fixtures coming up, and to get the good vibes flowing with the Champions League schedule starting this week. They need to get the attack humming, too. Ebere Eze getting his first start in Arsenal colors is exciting. They need to work him in with his new teammates and up to speed with the systems as quickly as possible.
The Gunners are dealing with the injury bug. Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring issue but may be back to face Manchester City next weekend. William Saliba’s ankle injury may not be a serious as reported. The French media suggested he might be out a month, but there were reports that he was in contention to make the matchday squad today. Kai Havertz is back walking after his knee surgery but still a ways away from returning to action. Christian Norgaard is back in training but not in the matchday squad. Gabriel Jesus is still a couple months away from returning to action — he was not included on Arsenal’s league phase Champions League roster. Ben White makes the bench.
Forest will be without left back Ola Aina, who suffered a significant hamstring injury on international duty. The Nigerian defender started all but three Premier League matches last season. Taiwo Awoniyi is not in the matchday squad, either. Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was loan from Arsenal to Forest on deadline day, cannot face his parent club.
Arsenal – Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Madueke, Eze, Gyokeres
Nottingham Forest – Sels, Milenkovic, Williams, Morato, Murillo, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Sangare, Wood, Hudson-Odoi, Ndoye
WHAT: Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest
WHERE: Emirates Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, September 13th 4:30 am PT | 7:30 am ET | 12:30 pm BST
US TV: USA Network and UNIVERSO
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