Nottingham Forest in search of rare successive victories as Arsenal visits.
Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal kicks off at 17:30 [GMT] on Saturday, January 17, at City Ground.
Seventeenth-placed Nottingham Forest host Arsenal at the City Ground in a Premier League fixture that carries an intriguing recent narrative, despite Arsenal’s clear historical advantage in the matchup. While the Gunners have dominated this fixture over the years, Forest have shown a tendency to frustrate them on home soil since their return to the top flight. Forest’s home form this season has been a growing concern. They have already suffered six defeats in their first 10 Premier League matches at the City Ground, equalling one of their worst-ever starts at home in a league campaign. Only West Ham and Wolves have lost more home league games this season. Defensive fragility has been a major issue, with Forest conceding 17 goals at home—already more than they allowed across the whole of last season. Forest will look to Morgan Gibbs-White to provide a cutting edge. The midfielder has scored in his last two league appearances and is the club’s leading scorer this season with five goals. He is also on the verge of a significant personal milestone, needing just one goal or assist to become the first Nottingham Forest player to reach 50 Premier League goal involvements. He will be looking to claim that personal record as Forest hope to pick up back-to-back victories [LLLLW]. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Igor Jesus in attack is expected against the Gunners.
Table-topping Arsenal [WWWD] have won eight of their last 10 Premier League meetings with Nottingham Forest, though both of Forest’s positive results in that run have come at the City Ground. They arrive following a 0-0 draw with Liverpool, a result that highlighted their defensive solidity once again while remaining the only side in the Premier League this season yet to trail by two goals in any match. Historically, Arsenal rarely go consecutive league games without scoring, though intriguingly, both recent instances of that occurring ended with away matches at the City Ground. Set pieces could prove decisive in this contest. Arsenal have scored more non-penalty set-piece goals than any other Premier League side this season, while Nottingham Forest have been one of the league’s most vulnerable teams in defending such situations. Only Bournemouth have conceded more. While Arsenal enter as favourites, Forest’s recent home resilience against the Gunners suggests a competitive contest, with fine margins likely to decide the outcome. Viktor Gyökeres is expected to lead the attack, with Arsenal expected to appear with a 4—2—3—1 formation.