All eyes go dey Emirates Stadium for Saturday early kickoff as Mikel Arteta Arsenal face Ange Postecoglou Nottingham Forest. Na the Australian first assignment as Forest coach, while Arsenal dey target top spot for Premier League table.
Match Preview
Forest start season with wahala under Nuno Espirito Santo before board finally sack am. Dem quickly hire Postecoglou – man wey carry Europa League for Tottenham last season. E style dey totally different from Santo: where Nuno dey play defensive football, Postecoglou dey always push high line and gung-ho attack.
But Forest form no too sweet: dem don collect just four points from nine games, and dem last outing na 3-0 disgrace for home against West Ham. Dem never keep clean sheet for 11 Premier League games straight, and away record dey poor as both teams dey always score against dem.
Meanwhile, Arsenal lose their perfect record for season after 1-0 defeat to Liverpool before international break. Even though dem create more chances, one last-minute Szoboszlai free-kick knack dem down. Still, the Gunners dey just three points behind Liverpool and fit climb top if dem beat Forest for lunchtime kickoff.
History dey Arsenal side: dem never lose at home to Forest since 1989, plus Arteta get three wins and one draw against Postecoglou during the Aussie time for Spurs.
Arsenal Premier League Form
- W
- W
- L
Nottingham Forest Premier League Form
- W
- D
- L
Team News
Arsenal: William Saliba ankle knock still dey cause talk, but Cristhian Mosquera fit continue after him solid show for Anfield. Ben White and Christian Norgaard dey 50-50 to feature. Gabriel Jesus (ACL), Kai Havertz (knee) and Bukayo Saka (hamstring) still sidelined. Expect Eberechi Eze to start ahead of Gabriel Martinelli after the winger poor show against Liverpool.
Nottingham Forest: Ola Aina injure him hamstring for Nigeria duty, while Oleksandr Zinchenko no fit play against him parent club Arsenal. New signing Nicolo Savona fit start for left-back. Nicolas Dominguez (knee) also dey out.
Possible Lineups
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Yates; McAtee, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Prediction
Arsenal goal numbers from open play no too ginger this season, but Forest defense na leaking pipe. Even if Postecoglou new manager bounce give Forest small hope, Arsenal get enough firepower to take all three points.
We say: Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest
