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Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
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Kick Off: Wednesday 26th February at 19:30
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Competition: Premier League
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal look set to finish second for the third consecutive season after Liverpool’s composed 2-0 away victory against Man City left the Gunners 11 points behind the Reds, with just 12 games remaining.
Arsenal’s title hopes now look slim, and with injuries mounting, their squad depth is being tested. The Gunners have lost 2 of their last 3 matches in all competitions, including a disappointing home defeat to West Ham which further exposed their lack of attacking firepower.
Nottingham Forest are having a remarkable campaign, currently sitting in third place, just 6 points behind Arsenal. Despite 3 losses in their last 5 games, all of those defeats have come away from home. At the City Ground, Forest have been much stronger, avoiding defeat in their last 7 matches.
⭐ Nottingham Forest v Arsenal Best Bet
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has been one of the most fouled players in the league this season. The midfielder has won 44 fouls so far this campaign, averaging 2.14 fouls won per match. He has been fouled at least 3 times in each of his last 4 starts for Forest, winning a total of 13 fouls during this period.
Arsenal’s aggressive pressing system often leads to frequent fouling, with the Gunners averaging 10.7 fouls per game. With Anderson playing a crucial role in linking midfield to attack, he is likely to be heavily involved in possession, making him a prime target for Arsenal’s midfielders.
The Gunners will be eager to disrupt Forest’s build-up play, and Anderson’s technical ability and willingness to carry the ball forward make him a strong candidate to be fouled multiple times at odds of 2.10.
🟡 Nottingham Forest v Arsenal ABC Exclusive Boost
Forest have been resilient at the City Ground, going unbeaten in their last 7 home games. They have also enjoyed recent success against Arsenal on home soil, winning 2 of their last 3 home encounters. The Gunners have looked vulnerable in recent weeks, losing 2 of their last 3 matches in all competitions. With Arsenal missing attacking options and struggling for consistency, Forest will fancy their chances of getting a result here.
Forest’s matches this season have been physical, averaging 21.92 fouls per game. Notably, there have been at least 20 fouls in each of their last 6 fixtures, with that average rising to 23.67 per game over this time. Arsenal’s matches also see plenty of fouls, averaging 21.66 per game, with 4 of their last 6 matches featuring at least 20 fouls. With so much at stake, a high foul count seems very likely.
Corners also look promising for Forest. They are averaging 4.34 corners per match this season and have taken at least 4 corners in each of their last 5 games. Over that stretch, their average rises to 6.6 corners per match. Given their attacking intent at home, they should have no trouble reaching this mark again
👕 Nottingham Forest v Arsenal Predicted XI
🔍 Nottingham Forest v Arsenal Players to Watch
🔴 Morgan Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White has been one of Nottingham Forest’s most consistent attacking threats this season and presents great value at 1.73 to register a couple of shots. He averages 2.08 shots per 90 minutes this term and has attempted multiple shots in 5 of his last 6 games, taking 13 in total across this period.
Over Arsenal’s last 6 matches, they have conceded nearly 9 shots per game, which suggests Gibbs-White will have opportunities to get into shooting positions here. He is influential from open play, as well as being on set pieces for Forest, which will provide more shooting opportunities for him.
⚪ Mikel Merino
With Arsenal’s injury crisis continuing to affect their attacking options, Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino has been pushed into a more advanced role. This tactical shift has increased his pressing responsibilities, making him a prime candidate for sinning here.
His aggressive playing style was evident in his last appearance against West Ham, where he committed 5 fouls while leading the press. Merino currently averages 1.96 fouls per 90 minutes this season but has seen an increase of late, committing 9 fouls in his last 3 starts.
Given Nottingham Forest’s ability to win free kicks (11 fouls won per game), Merino will likely be drawn into physical battles that result in fouls once more.
📂 Nottingham Forest v Arsenal Cheat Sheet
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💻 Nottingham Forest v Arsenal Form and Tactics
Nottingham Forest are likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, shifting to a back 3 when out of possession. Their game plan will be centred around staying compact defensively and using their pace on the wings to hurt Arsenal in transition. With home advantage, Forest will look to frustrate the Gunners by absorbing pressure and hitting them on the break.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are expected to line up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, but with a makeshift attack due to injuries. Mikel Merino is expected to lead the line, providing a physical presence up top. The Gunners are likely to dominate possession, attempting to break down a well-organised Forest defence.
Arsenal, who sit 6 points above Forest, score more goals (1.98 to 1.69), take more shots (14.45 to 13.41), hit the target more often (5.30 to 4.79) and take more corners (6.8 to 4.72) than their opponents. Arsenal also concede fewer corners (2.77 to 6.34), fouls (10.55 to 10.86), and yellow cards (1.77 to 2.10) than Forest, however, due to injuries we expect a much closer match here.
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🏁 Nottingham Forest v Arsenal Ref Watch
- Referee – Andrew Madley
| Average Cards (Y / R) | 4.15 / 0.08 |
| Fouls Given | 23.23 |
| Penalties | 0.15 |
📺 How to Watch Nottingham Forest v Arsenal in the Premier League
📅 When is Nottingham Forest v Arsenal? / Wednesday, 26th February 2025, 19:30
🏟 Where is Nottingham Forest v Arsenal? / The City Ground (Nottingham)
📺 What TV Channel is Nottingham Forest v Arsenal on? / TNT Sports 2
🟨 …And who is the referee for Nottingham Forest v Arsenal? / Andrew Madley 🏴
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