The omens are positive for Mikel Arteta heading into Arsenal‘s trip to the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
In six career meetings with new Nottingham Forest boss, Oliver Glasner, the Spaniard is yet to suffer a defeat against the German, winning five times and drawing just once so far.
What the outcome will be this time around remains to be seen, with the Gunners having been unbeaten against the Tricky Trees last season.
How Arsenal fared against Forest last season
Starting with the meeting in January, it certainly wasn’t a thriller in Nottingham, with neither side actually registering a shot on target in the first half.
Gabriel Martinelli, a man since sold on by Arteta, did squander a presentable opening before the break, while the second 45 also saw Matz Sels deny Bukayo Saka with an impressive, vital save.
Late Arsenal appeals for a penalty, following a ‘handball’ by Ola Aina, were also waved away, with the visitors held to a goalless draw to ensure they missed the chance to move nine points clear at the summit.
Sean Dyche had been at the helm at the time for the hosts, although back in September, the two clubs had met during Ange Postecoglou’s brief, ill-fated reign in charge of Forest.
It was actually the former Tottenham Hotspur man’s first game at the helm, yet the result set the tone for what was to follow, as a Viktor Gyokeres strike, alongside a Martin Zubimendi double, secured a comfortable win for the Emirates side.
Let’s hope it’s more of the same on Sunday.
Arsenal team news vs Forest
It remains to be seen how the Gunners will line up this time around, with Arteta having gone strong for the eventual 3-0 win over Lille in midweek.
Certain selection decisions have been rather enforced, of course, with the north London side still having to contend with a handful of injury concerns.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta confirmed that while Piero Hincapie is making good progress in his recovery, the South American left-back will “probably need another week or two”.
As for Zubimendi, following the Spaniard’s absence against Lille, it remains in doubt as to whether he will be back in contention, with a late assessment set to be made.
Elsewhere, William Saliba remains another notable absentee, albeit with Arteta revealing that the Frenchman’s recovery is looking “very, very positive”, while Christos Tzolis is set to be back “in a few weeks”.
The loss of Tzolis has provided a particular headache for the Arsenal boss, with it perhaps time to unleash Max Dowman in this forward line instead.
Why Dowman could now start ahead of £120m Arsenal duo
It took a seven-minute, second-half blitz for Arsenal to click into gear on Tuesday night, with the introduction of the ‘big guns’ working wonders for the hosts.
On came Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka on the 65th-minute mark, just moments after Jurrien Timber had opened the scoring in style.
Saka subsequently provided the assist for Eberechi Eze’s goal, while Havertz was the man to supply the assist for Saka to make it 3-0 and seal the win for the Premier League champions.
You’d expected the Englishman, alongside Havertz and Odegaard, to start again this time around, albeit with there still some uncertainty over who the final member of the forward line should be.
Perhaps it might be a case of shifting Saka over to the left in order to accommodate young Dowman on the right, the 16-year-old still waiting for regular, consistent game time at Premier League level.
Arteta is right to be easing him in slowly in order to temper expectations, yet, let’s face it, the horse has already bolted in that sense.
Dowman was notably mesmeric in the Carabao Cup triumph over Ipswich Town, bagging a brace in that thumping 4-2 win, including that stunning, solo goal for the opener.
He no doubt had his moments last season too, be it running the show away at Mansfield, or providing the decisive act late on against Everton, his last-gasp goal that night perhaps the defining image of Arsenal’s title triumph.
Time and again, the teenager has shown what he can do, with there surely good reason to look to him this time around, instead of Arteta’s £120m duo of Eze and Madueke.
That pair have the seniority over Dowman, although the younger man must be quietly furious at being overlooked for two forwards who just haven’t ever delivered consistently in an Arsenal shirt.
Of course, Eze did rifle in against Lille in midweek, yet the former Crystal Palace talisman has recorded just two goal involvements in eight games in all competitions this season.
|
Madueke vs Lille |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
65 |
|
Touches |
58 |
|
Shots |
1 |
|
Shots on target |
0 |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Accurate crosses |
1/15 |
|
Successful dribbles |
1/3 |
|
Carries |
27 |
|
Defensive contributions |
0 |
As for Madueke, the ex-Chelsea speedster got the nod off the left in Tzolis’ absence against Leeds United, yet for all the endeavour, there remains a frustrating lack of end product.
The left-footer is pacy and direct, but again he’s only contributed two goals and assists in seven outings this season. His career Premier League record, meanwhile, stands at just 16 goals and eight assists in 96 games to date.
Considering Dowman, at 16, has two goal contributions to his name from just three senior appearances in 2026/27 says it all, in truth, with it perhaps time that he permanently moved ahead of both Eze and Madueke in the attacking pecking order.
