Prediction: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

Verdict: Total goals over 2.5

Best odds: 13/20

Bookmaker: Unibet

Coming back to the venue where their hopes for a Premier League title were shattered in the previous season, Arsenal will face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday night.

Last weekend, the Gunners regained their winning form and goal-scoring prowess by defeating Crystal Palace 5-0. In contrast, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Bristol City in Friday’s FA Cup match.

Nottingham Forest

Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal crushed Arsenal’s hopes of achieving Premier League stardom once and for all last season. Simultaneously, it secured Nottingham Forest a spot in the top flight for the second consecutive year. However, a third straight season of top-flight football is far from guaranteed at this point.

Nuno Espirito Santo, who replaced Steve Cooper, the architect of the Gunners’ season-defining defeat, has witnessed a series of goal-filled matches from the Forest dugout. In his initial six fixtures in charge, an astonishing 26 goals were scored, including five in their recent Premier League clash with Brentford.

Despite triumphing 3-2 against Blackpool in the FA Cup three days prior, the Tricky Trees faced a 3-2 defeat against Brentford, marked by Ivan Toney’s controversial free-kick goal. Forest, currently positioned 16th with a four-point lead over 18th-placed Luton Town, expressed frustration as VAR was unable to intervene.

Following the contentious loss, Forest’s prolific scoring streak ended at Ashton Gate on Friday evening. Despite an uninspiring goalless draw against Bristol City, an FA Cup fourth-round replay looms. However, their focus shifts to their first Premier League home fixture of 2024, precisely one month after a remarkable 2-1 victory over Manchester United ended a four-game losing streak at the City Ground. And it will be their task to spoil Arsenal’s chances of Premier League glory again.

Team News

The knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations will keep all six Nottingham Forest representatives – Ola Aina, Cheikhou Kouyate, Willy Boly, Serge Aurier, Ibrahim Sangare, and Moussa Niakhate – away from the upcoming clash against Arsenal.

Furthermore, left-back Nuno Tavares, who has been revitalizing his career under Santo, is ineligible to play against his parent club. Taiwo Awoniyi (groin), Anthony Elanga (thigh), and Divock Origi (groin) were absent in Friday’s FA Cup tie.

While Elanga and Origi are expected to be the first to return from the treatment room, their availability for Tuesday’s game remains uncertain. Morgan Gibbs-White is likely to make a comeback after being limited to a second-half cameo at Ashton Gate.

Arsenal

Arsenal cast aside their previous attacking struggles in a spectacular five-star display against local rivals Crystal Palace on January 20th. Prolific defender Gabriel Magalhaes initiated the goal spree in the first half, connecting with two Gunners corners to establish a commanding lead. The second goal, initially attributed as a Dean Henderson own goal, has now been rightly credited to Magalhaes. Gabriel Martinelli (two goals) and Leandro Trossard also contributed to the goal fest in the second half.

In a single match at the Emirates, Arsenal equaled their goal tally from a challenging seven-game stretch between December 9 and January 7, where only one match ended in victory. Currently occupying the third spot in the table, Mikel Arteta’s side trails Aston Villa solely on goal difference.

Following a surprising FA Cup defeat to Liverpool, Arteta’s squad enjoyed an extended rest before their next fixture on the road. However, their recent away form has been less than stellar, failing to secure a win in their last three Premier League matches. Not since Arteta’s early months in charge have they experienced such a prolonged streak without an away victory.

The haunting memories of last season’s 1-0 loss at the City Ground will resurface when Arsenal returns to Forest’s turf. This defeat marked Forest’s third consecutive home win over Arsenal in all competitions, potentially a worrying aspect for the visitors. However, the North London giants managed to exact a measure of revenge with a 2-1 triumph at the Emirates on the opening weekend of the current campaign.

Team News

Arsenal’s international duo, Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu, continue their quest for glory with their respective countries. Unfortunately, Jurrien Timber (ACL) and Fabio Vieira (groin) are set to remain sidelined for an extended period.

In a concerning development, Declan Rice, a sight no Gooner wished to witness, exited last weekend’s triumph over Palace with a reported thigh issue. While Arteta downplayed it as “tiredness,” Rice’s absence from the recent training images fuels concerns about his availability for Tuesday. Additionally, Gabriel Magalhaes (ankle) was conspicuously absent from the London Colney training sessions last week following his early departure in the derby.

On a positive note, Thomas Partey, who was excluded from Ghana’s AFCON squad due to a severe thigh injury, is back in full training and could potentially feature on the bench.

Conclusion

Uncertainty surrounding the availability of Rice and Gabriel, both influential figures for Arsenal in both defensive and offensive aspects, presents less than ideal preparation for the Gunners, and their recent visits to the City Ground have yielded unfavorable results.

On the flip side, Forest’s extensive list of absentees may have taken a toll, particularly evident in their recent match against Bristol City. This could potentially make them vulnerable to an energized Arsenal side, now boasting renewed attacking confidence. The Gunners, aiming to secure at least 24 hours in the second spot, may find an opportune moment against a Forest team grappling with personnel challenges.

But all in all, neither team is expected to go out without a fight.

Verdict: Total goals over 2.5

Best odds: 13/20

Bookmaker: Unibet