Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: Can the Gunners Bounce Back Tonight? Match Preview & Prediction

Nottingham Forest returns to home turf on Wednesday night, eager to turn their fortunes around after back-to-back defeats. Meanwhile, Arsenal faces mounting pressure following a disappointing loss to West Ham, which has left them trailing league leaders Liverpool by a significant margin.

Mikel Arteta’s squad, once in the thick of the title race, now faces an uphill battle to stay in contention. However, the Gunners cannot afford to dwell on the past as they prepare to take on a Nottingham Forest side that has made the City Ground a fortress this season.

Forest, under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo, has been resilient at home, losing only twice and conceding just ten goals across twelve matches. Their dominant 7-0 win over Brighton earlier this month showcased their attacking prowess, and they will be keen to replicate that form against Arsenal.

Kick-Off Details

• Location: City Ground, Nottingham
• Date: Wednesday, February 26
• Kick-Off Time: 19:30 GMT / 14:30 ET / 11:30 PT
• Referee: Andy Madley
• VAR: Michael Salisbury

Head-to-Head & Recent Form

Last Five Meetings

• Nottingham Forest: 1 win
• Arsenal: 4 wins
• Draws: 0

Current Form (All Competitions)

Nottingham Forest:

• Newcastle 4-3 Nottingham Forest
• Fulham 2-1 Nottingham Forest
• Exeter 2-2 (2-4 pens) Nottingham Forest
• Nottingham Forest 7-0 Brighton
• Bournemouth 5-0 Nottingham Forest

Arsenal:

• Arsenal 0-1 West Ham
• Leicester 0-2 Arsenal
• Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal
• Arsenal 5-1 Manchester City
• Girona 1-2 Arsenal

Where to Watch (UK & US)

• United Kingdom: discovery+, TNT Sports 2
• United States: Peacock
• Canada: fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network Canada

Team News & Predicted Lineups

Nottingham Forest

The home side remains largely injury-free, with only backup goalkeeper Carlos Miguel sidelined. Taiwo Awoniyi could feature while wearing a protective mask, and Ryan Yates is expected to return to midfield.

Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has several selection headaches, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Takehiro Tomiyasu all unavailable. Ethan Nwaneri is expected to be fit despite limping off in the previous fixture, while Raheem Sterling could make his return to the starting XI.

Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling.

Match Prediction

Arsenal has struggled against defensively disciplined teams this season, and Nottingham Forest’s aggressive low block could pose a significant challenge. While the Gunners’ defensive setup may prevent a high-scoring game, the home side’s resilience and ability to capitalize on key moments could make the difference.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal