Arsenal will kick off the new Premier League season this Saturday when they welcome Nottingham Forest to the Emirates.
Despite the disappointment of last season, the Gunners enter the new season positively after exacting revenge on Manchester City last Sunday by winning the Community Sheild at the expense of Pep Guardiola’s side.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest travels to North London looking to resume on a positive note after sealing a second season in the Premier League courtesy of a 16th-place finish.
Having strengthened their squad again this summer, Steve Cooper’s side will travel to the Emirates Stadium hoping to make it back-to-back wins against the Gunners, having secured a 1-0 win the last time both sides met.
Pre-match Stats
- Arsenal have kept just two clean sheets in their last ten competitive games (W3, D4, L3).
- The Gunners have won eleven of their 20 matchday one home games (D3, L6).
- Mikel Arteta’s side lost just two home games in the Premier League last season (W19, D14).
- Only Manchester City (94) scored more goals than Arsenal (88) in the league last season.
- Nottingham Forest had the worst away record in the Premier League last season, with just one win in 19 games (D5, 13).
- The visitors also scored the fewest away goals in the English top flight last season–eleven goals.
- Steve Cooper’s side conceded 44 goals away from home last season, more than any other side.
- Forest haven’t won against Arsenal away since March 1989, following a dozen failed attempts (D4, L8).
Match Preview
After their heartbreaking end to last season, Arsenal began the new season in strength as they saw off Manchester City on penalties to win the Community Shield last Sunday.
After falling behind to Cole Palmer’s stunning goal, Arsenal pegged Pep Guardiola’s side back courtesy of a late goal by Leandro Trossard before getting the better of the Cityzens on penalties.
They will now look to retain that winning momentum here as they welcome Nottingham Forest to the Emirates. Both sides last met here in October last year, and the Gunners prevailed 5-0.
Given their squad strength and quality, they will fancy their chances of winning again. Mikel Arteta’s side have added Declan Rice, Kai Harvetz and Jurrien Timber to their ranks to ensure they are ready to end their near three-decade PL title drought.
Meanwhile, while Arsenal are hoping to win the title, Forest are hoping to make it two consecutive seasons in the Premier League.
After a 23-year absence, returning last year was their first step towards becoming a dominant force in football again. But despite their quality additions this summer, they are still far from being tagged as a solid PL team.
But they will feel that the foundation for an exciting future has already been laid, as pointed out by Steve Cooper when his side beat Arsenal last May.
That win in May confirmed their top-flight future and handed the title to City. So a repeat of the feat here will show they have arrived.
However, the visitors have yet to win consecutive games against Arsenal since the days of the legendary Brian Clough in September 1978.
Back home ❤️ pic.twitter.com/epALf6lDPM
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2023
Team News
Mikel Arteta will be without Jorginho 9muscle injury) and Gabriel Jesus (knee injury) for this tie.
Meanwhile, Steve Cooper is still sweating over the fitness of Moussa Niakhate (dislocated elbow), Felipe Monteiro (knee injury) and Taiwo Awoniyi (ankle injury).
Predicted lineups
Predicted Arsenal Lineup: Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber, Martin Oedegaard, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli.
Predicted Nottingham Forest Lineup: Matt Turner, Joe Worrall, Willy Boly, Scott McKenna, Serge Aurier, Ola Aina, Ryan Yates, Orel Mangala, Danilo, Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson.
Prediction
Buoyed by their win over City, we predict Arsenal to win this tie.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
