Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Arsenal’s title dream all but died last weekend, but there’s certainly not a damp squib feel about this contest with Nottingham Forest still in need of points to guarantee their Premier League survival.

Man City’s victory at Everton was swiftly followed by Brighton’s resounding triumph at the Emirates which means City, due to their superior goal difference, need just two points to claim their third successive league title.

They’ll be expected to beat Chelsea on Sunday in the wake of their emphatic win over Real Madrid on Wednesday night, although defeat for the Gunners at the City Ground would also crown them champions.

While it feels like Mikel Arteta’s side have little to play for, it’d be a shame to see Arsenal’s majestic campaign end with a whimper.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of Saturday’s Premier League bout between Forest and the Gunners.

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal on TV

When is kick-off? Saturday 20 May

What time is kick-off? 17:30 (BST)

Where is it played? Emirates Stadium

TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event (UK) / NBC, UNIVERSO, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (US) / fuboTV

Referee? Anthony Taylor

Nottingham Forest team news

The hosts have a whole host of players missing Saturday’s game due to injury.

Dean Henderson (thigh), Chris Wood (thigh), Giulian Biancone (knee), Neco Williams (jaw), Omar Richards (calf), Scott McKenna (shoulder), Jack Colback (head) and Jonjo Shelvey (calf/internal disciplinary) are all sidelined, while Gustavo Scarpa (calf) and Emmanuel Dennis (knock) are doubts.

Steve Cooper opted to change tack last weekend at Chelsea by switching to a 3-5-2, and the Forest boss could retain this system for the Gunners’ visit to the City Ground.

Arsenal team news

Gabriel Martinelli has been ruled out for the Gunners’ remaining two games of the season after sustaining ankle ligament damage in the defeat to Brighton. The Brazilian joins William Saliba (back), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Mohamed Elneny (knee), and Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) on the sidelines.

Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson will be vying for a starting berth in Martinelli’s absence.

Arteta could make a couple of changes elsewhere, with Thomas Partey potentially coming back into midfield and Granit Xhaka perhaps earning a rest.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal predicted lineups

Nottingham Forest: Navas; Worrall, Niakhate, Felipe; Aurier, Yates, Danilo, Mangala, Lodi; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi.

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Fabio Vieira, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Nelson.

Nottingham Forest’s recent form

Chelsea 2-2 Nottingham Forest (13/05) – Premier League

Nottingham Forest 4-3 Southampton (08/05) – Premier League

Brentford 2-1 Nottingham Forest (29/04) – Premier League

Nottingham Forest 3-1 Brighton (26/04) – Premier League

Liverpool 3-2 Nottingham Forest (22/04) – Premier League

Arsenal’s recent form

Arsenal 0-3 Brighton (14/05) – Premier League

Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal (07/05) – Premier League

Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (02/05) – Premier League

Man City 4-1 Arsenal (26/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 3-3 Southampton (21/04) – Premier League

Prediction

Brighton’s victory last Sunday was the nail in the coffin. The title is done, and it’s going to be hard for Arteta to rally his players for the trip to Forest.

Cooper’s side have picked up seven points from their last four games to leave them outside the drop zone with a couple of games remaining, and even a point on Saturday would go a long way to safety.

Forest’s home form is legitimately decent, and the significance of the contest for the home side renders this a tough fixture for the Gunners, who will be without several key players once more.

I think there will be goals in this one at both ends of the pitch with the spoils eventually being shared.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Arsenal