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

Arsenal kick-off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign at Saturday lunchtime as they take on Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.

The Gunners embarked on a majestic 2022/23 season which almost culminated in the Premier League title, but a stuttering end to the campaign meant they fell short of eventual treble-winners Man City.

Refusing to rest on their laurels, however, Arsenal have been big spenders in the summer transfer window, and optimism has been renewed regarding a title charge after they beat City on penalties in last week’s Community Shield.

Mikel Arteta will have to deal with increased expectations, but the Spaniard certainly has the squad at his disposal to test the Cityzens once more.

The Gunners have a great chance to get their campaign up and running with an emphatic victory against the side which boasted the worst away record in the Premier League last season.

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

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Forest.

How to watch Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest

When is kick-off? Saturday 12 August

What time is kick-off? 12:30 (BST)

Where is it played? Emirates Stadium

TV channel/live stream? TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+ App, discovery+, TNT Sports 1 (UK) / fuboTV (Canada) / Peacock (US)

Referee? Michael Oliver

Arsenal team news

Arteta will likely be without Oleksandr Zinchenko for the season opener with the Ukrainian yet to fully recover from the calf injury that ended his 2022/23 campaign. Gabriel Jesus is also out with a knee injury, and Kai Havertz will likely keep his place in the team.

Jurrien Timber deserves to continue at left-back in Zinchenko’s absence, and we could see last Sunday’s hero, Leandro Trossard, come in for Gabriel Martinelli down the left.

Nottingham Forest team news

https://twitter.com/NFFC/status/1689231497633378305

Cooper settled upon a 3-4-2-1 which brought success at the end of last season, and we’ll likely see that system deployed at the Emirates on Saturday.

However, the visitors could be without a couple of key defenders with Felipe and Moussa Niakhate both doubts. Omar Richards will also be absent, with striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who scored the winner against the Gunners in May, unlikely to feature.

Matt Turner could start against his former club, with new signings Anthony Elanga and Ola Aina both in contention.

Arsenal vs Nott’m Forest predicted lineups

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Nott’m Forest: Turner; Aurier, Worrall, Boly; Aina, Yates, Mangala, Danilo, Williams; Gibbs-White, Elanga.

Arsenal’s recent form

Arsenal 1-1 (5-4p) Man City (06/08) – Community Shield

Arsenal 1-1 AS Monaco – (02/08) – Emirates Cup

Arsenal 5-3 Barcelona (27/07) – Friendly

Man Utd 2-0 Arsenal (22/07) – Friendly

MLS All-Stars 0-5 Arsenal (20/07) – Friendly

Nott’m Forest’s recent form

Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Nott’m Forest (05/08) – Friendly

Nott’m Forest 0-5 Rennes (02/08) – Friendly

PSV 1-0 Nott’m Forest (30/07) – Friendly

Nott’m Forest 0-2 Leeds Utd (27/07) – Friendly

Levante 1-2 Nott’m Forest (22/07) – Friendly

Prediction

Arsenal couldn’t have asked for a more perfect fixture to kick off their season. The Gunners could put on a show in front of their fans on Saturday.

Forest were pitiful away from home last season, and it’s fair to say they haven’t had the best preparation for the new season. Cooper’s side have won just two of their seven outings, and they could be without a couple of key men in north London.

While the Gunners’ pre-season was a mixed bag, they head into the season off the back of a morale-boosting Community Shield triumph and the confidence will be oozing through Arteta’s side this weekend. Arsenal put five Forest at the Emirates last season, and I think we’ll see a similar sort of victory in the season opener.

Prediction: Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest