Arsenal host Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on Saturday, with fans eagerly anticipating the Gunners’ predicted lineup amid key injury concerns and a crucial need for a win to maintain their top-four position.
They have tasted defeats twice in their last four games and are now nine points adrift of league leaders Liverpool. It’s pretty shocking to see Mikel Arteta’s men produce such results since they are considered as one of the favourites to lift the PL title this season.
The Forest game will also be a challenging one. The visitors have been a surprise package this season and are level on points with the Gooners at the fifth spot.
Their three-match winning streak was broken by Newcastle United at their home turf before the International break. Arsenal have a good record against the East Midlands club- three victories in their last four meetings since the start of the 2022-23 season.
Back home soon ⏳
Looking forward to seeing you in N5 on Saturday, Gooners ❤️ pic.twitter.com/OXSEtwUKVV
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 18, 2024
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They haven’t won a game at the Emirates since 1989. Although, history will favour Arteta’s team, Forest’s recent run can shift the momentum by their side if taken lightly.
A strong starting XI is necessary to avoid falling out of the top four. Many players got ample amount of time to rest during the break and we expect them to make it to this blockbuster weekend clash.
Here is how Arsenal could lineup against Nottingham Forest;
Defence: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori
Raya is an undisputed starter once again, with Timber and Calafiori supporting him at the right and left-back spots, respectively.
The latter is stepping up at London Colney and will be eyeing a start after suffering a knee injury last month against Shakhtar Donetsk. The manager will be hopeful that he returns for the Forest encounter.
🚨Riccardo Calafiori is expected to be available for the game against Nottingham Forest this weekend following the injury he picked up against Shakhtar last month. pic.twitter.com/Ife9vH7qUx
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) November 18, 2024
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney continue their recovery and won’t make it to the bench. Ben White is also spending a spell on the sidelines and was allowed to proceed with knee surgery during the break.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko will be available as a substitute and might see a second-half appearance. Magalhaes and Saliba are back after the latter missed playing a few games. They will cover the centre-back region.
Midfield: Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard
Rice’s return will be a doubt since he missed the international break due to a knock. Although he made a substitute appearance against Chelsea in their last game, Arteta confirmed that the injury doesn’t look good.
Merino will continue performing his duties at the base of the midfield. Odegaard’s return in the last match proved to be extremely valuable after missing nearly three months of action due to an ankle injury.
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The Norwegian midfielder’s presence will spark creativity and energy in attack. Although other players are struggling to deal with minor injury concerns, Odegaard has marked a comeback at the time when the team needed him the most.
Attack: Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli
Saka missed the international break due to an injury he suffered against Chelsea. Arteta later revealed that it’s not good news for the team. After the Blues’ clash, he said:
“It doesn’t look good, because for two players of that importance to tell you they cannot continue in the game, obviously it’s not good news.”
But we believe that the injury is not as worrying as initially expected and that he would return to full fitness against Forest. Leandro Trossard’s return is a doubt as well after the Belgian ace picked up a knock in the game against Israel.
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He will be assessed in London, and we expect an update on him by Friday. Meanwhile, Havertz will be ready to fulfil his duties as a false nine, with Martinelli assisting him on the left side of the attack.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli.
