Preview: Struggling Tricky Trees Face Stern Test Against Table-Topping Gunners
Nottingham Forest welcome Premier League leaders Arsenal to the City Ground on Saturday in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the weekend. With the title race tightening at the top and the relegation scrap heating up at the bottom, both sides arrive with plenty at stake.
Arsenal could begin the matchday with their advantage at the summit trimmed to just three points, increasing the importance of securing a result in Nottingham. Mikel Arteta’s men are also in the middle of a demanding run of fixtures that has already seen them edge past Chelsea 3–2 in midweek EFL Cup action and includes an upcoming European trip to Inter. Fatigue may be a factor, but momentum is firmly with the North London side.
Forest, meanwhile, sit 17th and are far from safe. Although projections suggest they should have enough to survive, any positive results for teams around them earlier in the day would pile further pressure on Sean Dyche’s side before kick-off.
Home Woes and Defensive Concerns
The City Ground has not been a fortress this season. Forest have already suffered six home league defeats, more than they managed across the whole of last campaign. Only a couple of clubs have lost more often on their own turf in 2025–26, underlining the scale of the challenge facing them.
More worrying is the volume of goals conceded. Forest have shipped 17 league goals at home this term, already exceeding last season’s total. That vulnerability looks dangerous against an Arsenal side who have been particularly deadly from set-pieces, leading the league for goals from dead-ball situations (excluding penalties).
Arsenal come into the game after a goalless draw with Liverpool, but they rarely go two league matches in a row without scoring. The only times that has happened in recent seasons both involved trips to Nottingham, offering the home fans a small glimmer of hope.
History Favors Arsenal
On paper, everything points towards the visitors. Arsenal have beaten Forest in eight of their last ten Premier League meetings and have not conceded in their last three league encounters with them.
However, trips to the City Ground have not always been straightforward. The Gunners have managed just one win in their last five visits there across all competitions, with Forest claiming a memorable 1–0 victory in 2023 and holding Arsenal to a 0–0 draw last year.
The most recent meeting, though, went Arsenal’s way, as they cruised to a 3–0 home win earlier in the season.
Key Men to Watch
Much of Forest’s attacking threat is likely to flow through Morgan Gibbs-White. The midfielder has found the net in back-to-back league games, leads the club’s scoring charts, and is one goal involvement away from reaching 50 in the Premier League for Forest — a landmark no player at the club has achieved before.
For Arsenal, Bukayo Saka remains central to almost everything they do going forward. No player in the league has been involved in more shots after carrying the ball this season, and his direct running could stretch Forest’s defence all evening.
Arteta may rotate slightly given the packed schedule, though his defensive options are limited by injuries. Forest are closer to full strength, but Chris Wood is expected to miss out, while a few returning players are still building fitness.
Managers and Match Outlook
Sean Dyche’s personal record against Arsenal offers little encouragement. His teams have managed no more than one goal in any Premier League match against them, and he has just two wins from 19 attempts.
Statistical models also heavily favour the visitors, giving Arsenal roughly a two-in-three chance of victory, with a draw far more likely than a Forest win.
Verdict
Arsenal’s consistency, defensive solidity, and superiority at set-pieces make them clear favourites. Forest’s recent struggles at home and leaky back line suggest this could be a long afternoon unless they produce something out of the ordinary.
A shock is not impossible at the City Ground – but everything points towards the league leaders having too much quality.
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