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Confirmed Arsenal team to face Nottingham Forest – Madueke starts

Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest today, and this is the team announced by Mikel Arteta to start the game.

Arsenal team v Forest

While Arsenal arrives as the stronger side on paper, the pressure firmly rests on the visitors, who know that anything less than a win would be damaging at this stage of the season.

Arsenal understands the importance of this fixture and believes it can deliver a strong performance. However, Forest’s situation adds a layer of complexity. The home side is fighting to avoid relegation and cannot afford to concede points easily. Games against teams at the top of the table often provide struggling sides with an opportunity to defy expectations, and Forest will see this match as a chance to boost confidence and prove they can secure enough wins to survive.

From Arsenal’s perspective, every dropped point risks undermining their position at the summit of the standings. Arsenal has already missed opportunities to extend its advantage over the chasing pack, which makes this fixture even more significant.

The Gunners cannot afford to slip up again, particularly against a side battling near the bottom of the table. Winning matches like this is essential for any team with championship ambitions, and Arsenal will be judged not only on the result but also on how they manage the occasion.

The recent history between the two clubs adds intrigue to the contest. Forest has failed to win any of its last five matches against Arsenal, a statistic that favours the visitors. However, Arsenal’s record at the City Ground offers less reassurance, with just one win in their last five visits to the stadium.

This contrast highlights why the fixture is unlikely to be straightforward. Forest will draw encouragement from Arsenal’s struggles at their ground, while Arsenal must overcome that record to underline their seriousness as title contenders.

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132 Comments

  3. Another big chance to pull clear of City, let’s take it this time. I’ve got a good feeling today. Mosquera back on the bench is a pleasant surprise too, that takes a lot of pressure off Saliba & Gabriel

  4. Good lineup, at least Saka getting some rotation lately. Hopefully Eze gets some valuable minutes too, incase he’s not rusty when called upon. I think we will see a fired up Arsenal now that City lost, A big win for Arsenal tonight to send a statement.

  6. Good to see Mosqerra on the bench.
    A welcome surprise.
    We should have a fully fit squad imminently, barring any new injuries.
    COYG!

  7. Gyokeres would likely not be able to score or create assist/ pre-assist, but Arteta had to include him in the starting line-up since he became MOTM in the Carabao Cup game

    Gyokeres might be replaced by Havertz or Jesus in the second half of the game, if we still can’t score by then

    I hope Madueke will seize the chance to show his skills off and he shouldn’t lose the ball easily as he did against Portsmouth

  8. So the only recognized defense we have on the bench is Mosquera who was also injured, wah quite strange.
    All in all arsenal needs to capitalize on man city loosing and go 9 points clear.

  9. Also need to put pressure on Villa after the Manchester derby result. C’mon Arsenal take advantage of the situation.

    Happy with the team Arteta is putting out and an excellent bench. Lots of important games coming up – not least Utd on Sunday

  10. I hope we’ll win and distance City by 9 pts. If not we expect Arteta to get criticised for not starting Saka and Trossard. Last week we squandered the chance but not this week in a row. Ruthless Arsenal No Mercy!!!

  11. Rotating Trossard who has played a lot of football already and Saka who isn’t quite at his normal level is great while still fielding a very strong team. A fresh Saka for the end of season business is something we’ve never had the luxury until this season with Madueke sharing his minutes. Giving Martinelli a chance to build on his hat trick is also good management.

    A win today could end up being the final blow in this title race already even this early in the season with City struggling both mentally and physically.

  12. A must win game today. A nine point gap to City would give us a massive advantage going into the second half of the season.

  13. Embarrassing from these Forest players going down and the crowd sing “same old Arsenal, always cheating” 🙄

  15. Can’t believe Martinelli missed that open goal, every time I think the net is going to bulge we miss it.

  18. Michael Oliver at it again!!
    Don’t worry, these things equal themselves out over a season 😂😂

    1. No brainer if Oliver gets the slightest of chances he’ll punish us even without seeking input from VAR. So far not bad tbh.

  20. Gyokeres needs to impose himself better. His general contribution is quite poor. He’s almost a passenger sometimes. Hopefully MA will bring on Jesus and Havertz second half when Forest tire..

  21. Timber hardly touched him ridiculous to give a free kick. They’d have to murder us before Oliver gave us a free kick in that position.

    1. Saka is enough

      Or Saka & Trossard

      The rest can come in around 80 minutes – Saka & Trossard would have won us the game before then

        1. Would make my day if we do Sue 😁. I actually have so much faith in us but somehow always seem to feel agreaved by poor performances when we have great opportunities to show what we are about!

      2. It’s okay. It’s better control than at Chelsea, and still plenty of time left.

        The issue is Forest playing narrow, so no space through the middle to work with, and to exploit the space wide and possible one on ones we need to move the ball wide more quickly.

  24. Feels like our 2nd string attackers are literally just there to rest the legs of our starting ones, and not to actually contribute to these games. Madueke does a lot of things right, but he still has zero league goals, Martinelli is totally hit or miss on the day, and Gyokeres we’ve gone over enough times. I’m just getting a same vibe that I got during the Liverpool match these players get nervous and play even more conservative than usual when we have a chance to go more points clear. It always feels like the players are trying to control their emotions and not play too high tempo (Odegaard…). We need HT changes. A shame we cant ever give players like Saka & Trossard a proper rest because their backups dont score any goals.

      1. And why is the team allowing him take corners – he’s the worst corner-kick-taker we – so why are they allowing him take

        Odegaard does it much better

      2. He has bad decision making which is the only thing stopping him from being a top top player.

  26. I’m not saying Forest are an easy team to beat, especially at home. But as usual, we’re not winning many 50/50s, taking our chances or imposing our strengths. Some pretty average performances again from the usual culprits (Noni and Gyokeres). Need a better second half performance. Three massive points at stake!

  27. Not much football is being played out there. I think we need to change the front three. Madeuke started well but has faded, Martinelli’s having a stinker, and the less said about Gyokeres the better.

  28. Abeg Arteta just bring in Saka & Trossard from the beginning of second half

    Or at least only Saka, that boy at 60%-performance is still the best attacker in Arsenal

  29. Im sorry but Odeegard has to be one of the most overated captains and attacking midfielders in history .

    1. 2nd season now he’s given very very little to the team. I really hope we’re looking into some other options next season. Odegaard doesnt do enough to be an automatic starter and isn’t near the same bracket as KDB, or even Bruno. He needs to step up and on the pitch. I want to see a captains 45 minutes from him and get this attack ticking.

  30. Forest are taking every opportunity to go over and are going over even when they don’t get the opportunity. Oliver is giving them everything, we are playing honestly and he’s giving us nothing. Ridiculous yellow card for Timber.

  31. We need 45 minutes of CHAMPIONS performance because that sure as hell wasnt one. Players need to WANT it. Its moments like this where we need to capitalize, Forest are 17ty, we are 1st. Show that!

  32. The Gunners didn’t wear their shooting boots in the first half. Rice and Martinelli missed sitters

    Gyokeres won some duels though

    We need faster passes to the left wing, but we’ve got too many right-footed players on the left side

    If I were Arteta, I’d replace Gyokeres with Havertz, Rice with Merino or Timber with Lewis-Skelly. Timber’s substitution would be the best option since he’s got a yellow card

    1. Pretty sure Forrest will tire in the second half. Bringing on Havertz and Jesus will give us the edge as long as we can dominate the midfield battle with some good wing pressure. That’s what I’m hoping anyway..😬

  33. At half time both wing backs OUT Saka and Trossard IN. We needed Martinelli’s only one goal tonight if possible one minus from his Portsmouth hattrick.
    Middle is under used not much action from Rice Zubimendi and Odegaard.

  34. My opinion is that Martinelli,Gyok and Madueke shouldn’t really be starting together. They are all direct players who are not necessarily great at taking care of the ball. It should be one or two of them alongside one or two of Trossard,Havertz and Saka- for better balance.

    We need better control in the wings in the second half.

  37. I’d sell Martineli in a blink if a good offer comes in, I don’t think he’s worth an improved contract (salary). Useful player, but an upgrade would do.

  39. Every CB in the league just stands next to Gyokeres and wins the ball off of him, it’s ridiculous. Offers zero hold up play and cannot compete with the defenders in this league. How does Gabby J put up more of a fight than him?

    1. We’ve actually been struggling for weeks but managing to get good results. That won’t continue and we’re likely to drop points ourselves if we don’t get back to our usual dominating ways..

  43. Surely should have subbed Gyokeres at half time too? It’s just stubbornness from MA too put so much faith in him when it’s obvious he’s struggling with confidence and the rigours of the EPL..

    1. Arteta is literally wasting the fans time, and the players on the time of the players on the pitch. Thats 57 minutes of useless football we just wasted. We’ll never have a competent attack with Gyokeres on the pitch. Love these changes right now. Odegaard OFF, Madueke OFF, Gyok OFF. Our 3 big underperformers today. And Gyok and Ode have no business being automatic picks for our lineups.

  44. Why Merino for Odegaard???
    Don’t we need creativity from Midfield
    Is Arteta happy for point?

      1. Odegaard was struggling physically couldn’t impact the game, zubimendi is having a good game covering our back 4 against potential forest counters.

  50. We’re actually worsening as the second have goes on… we need 25 mins of fuel on ATTACK!!

  51. City is doing everything they could to give us the chances to win the league but unfortunately we are not taking those chances

  53. Frustrating game, but cannot fault Arsenal for not trying to attack just Forest not making things easy.

    1. But to win the league you need to win these games
      These types of games decide the league

  56. I want to win but As long as we don’t lose, I’m okay because we will still gain point over City and we are playing away

    1. playing to not lose is exactly how you dont win a title. If we draw today we would’ve been better off winning one match and losing the other points-wise.

  57. Game looks to be fizzleling out into another dissapointment 🙄. Still not looking like champions to be. Should be a pen though..

  60. Forest wasting so much time. Surely there will be a lot of ET right Michael Oliver 🙄… Seriously, how’s this guy even allowed to ref another one of our games?

  62. We couldn’t win a raffle with this lacklustre mentality let alone a championship. Shocking performances from all over the pitch. Never really had control over the game. Struggled to test their keeper. Over all, very very dissapointed. It may he a point but three should be ours after City’s loss. 😒

  69. Now am tired 😫 Liverpool,forest,chelsea….dropping points in winnable games….Arsenal would be out of sight now!!

  70. The going is getting tougher,we have dropped 4 points in the last two games we are just top because the two teams below us are equally awfully, the good thing is that we didn’t lose but our forwards need to up their game.

  72. Arteta please let’s not try this again

    We were fortunate last week but let’s not try it again

    Shuffle only during home games, winnable home games

    Our best players must start away games

  73. Our attacking output sucks honestly, the coach plays safe mostly. Playing Timber at LB also not helping our attacking, he can’t cross there. Merino for Odegaard instead of Eze also puzzling

  74. How many chances do we need to pull clear? So frustrating really. It feels like we lost the game. These are the kind of games you put a statement, you draw or loose we punish you. Second game in a row that we haven’t scored in the league and it’s worrying?

      2. Liverpool another disappointing 0-0, where again we seemed to wake up in the last 10 minutes, and didn’t give ourselves enough time to score. Maybe we should extend the wake up time to 30 minutes?

  75. Hate that I called it but I did. Arsenal in for an unpleasant January. These dropped points are on Mikel. Can’t start 3 toothless players upfront in an important game like this. Why were we saving Saka & Trossard & Jesus for Inter when we basically only need to win against Kariat? Thats what we get for underestimating this side.

    If Arteta keeps playing Gyokeres he will be our downfall and we will definitely not win the title and I’ll say Mikel has to go. It remains exactly as I said in August Arteta has zero excuses this season. Arsenal should be out of sight by now but the players dont have the stomach and the manager has bred this side to be scared and default to not losing instead of going all out to win a game. Took too long for Eze to come on the pitch, and Nwaneri not making the team at all why exactly? Especially when he had ZERO intention to use Havertz? I’m so tired of this but Arsenal do it to themselves.

    1. The tactics look to be wear them down in the first half, save the cavalry until the second if the others can’t do it.

  77. We should’ve won it .. Dyche had them play acting for free kicks and Oliver fell for it. Sometimes we plan too clean, how many times was Merino fouled before he went over? Lots of incorrect decisions by Oliver didn’t help goal kicks when they were corners awarding throws to the wrong team, all in NFs favour and of course the penalty. I know we should’ve still got the goal, but it doesn’t help.

  78. Arteta is just lucky the club has bought him many many excellent players. He is just bang average on tactics. He can’t coach a team to win against stubborn teams. We pass the ball for the sake of passing. How is Odegaard still starting games? He is just average and he does nothing to inspire the team as a captain. We have missed a big opportunity to increase our lead. A win by Villa will put massive pressure on the team. How does Nwaneri fail to get minutes when our attack is so flat these days. I would still go with Skelly at left back as Timber is not doing enough there and he could do with some rest. If we fail to win the EPL Arteta must go. We are wasting so much talent.

  79. I’m worried about Eze and Gyokeres. Probably more so Eze at the moment, he seemed to vanish after he was brought on, at least Gyokeres did something, but these were two outstanding players and it’s taking them
    an awful long time to adapt.

  80. Not good to see some Arsenal players chatting laughing smiling with Forest players after the final whistle as if they had won the match esp Eze. If Roy Keane was ours,

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