Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: Shocking Lineup Surprises and Key Team News Revealed Ahead of Premier League Clash
If Arsenal manages to secure a win against Nottingham Forest this Saturday, they’ll catapult themselves a hefty nine points ahead of Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League. Quite the statement, considering the weekend’s curtain-raiser saw the Cityzens suffer an unexpected 2-0 defeat to Manchester United — Michael Carrick’s debut as interim manager certainly shook things up. Meanwhile, Forest, resting precariously in the relegation zone just above West Ham, face a crucial test, especially as the Hammers have already grabbed an early lead against Tottenham. For the nitty-gritty team news and live minute-by-minute updates on this Premier League clash, you can dive right in at 101GreatGoals.com.
Arsenal will move nine points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League if they beat Nottingham Forest away on Saturday.
In the first game of the weekend in the top flight, the Cityzens surprisingly lost 2-0 at Manchester United in Michael Carrick’s first match as interim manager of their neighbours until the end of the season.
Fourth-bottom Forest started Saturday seven points ahead of West Ham immediately behind them, although the Hammers took an early lead at Tottenham in their game earlier on Saturday.
As well as team news below, you can follow 101GreatGoals.com’s live updates from Forest vs Arsenal in the Premier League here.
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Nottingham Forest starting lineup vs Arsenal
Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare makes his return following his Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign with Ivory Coast, but defender Willy Boly, who was also part of the squad, is not in the hosts’ squad.
Goalkeeper John Victor and striker Chris Wood (both knee) remain out. Midfielder Ryan Yates is on the bench following a hamstring issue.
Nottingham Forest starting XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Anderson, Dominguez, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus
Forest substitutes: To follow
Arsenal starting lineup vs Forest
Winger Max Dowman is out with an ankle injury for Arsenal but defender Cristhian Mosquera is back on the bench following the same issue.
Full-back Riccardo Calafiori is out with an unspecified issue and defender Piero Hincapie has a hamstring problem.
Arsenal starting XI: David Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice;, Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Arsenal substitutes: To follow
How to watch Forest vs Arsenal: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Saturday is at 17:30 GMT (12:30 ET / 09:30 PT), with live coverage in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.
TNT Sports costs £29.99 a month through Discovery Plus+, which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.
Forest vs Arsenal stats
- Forest have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games against Arsenal
- Both exceptions have come at the City Ground since their return to the division in 2022 (1-0 in May 2023, 0-0 in February 2025)
- Only West Ham (8) and Wolves (8) have lost more Premier League home games this season than Nottingham Forest (6)
- That represents the Tricky Trees’ joint-most defeats in their opening 10 home matches of a league campaign, while only in 1908/09 have they ever lost as many as seven of their first 11
- They have lost six of their 10 Premier League home games this season (W3 D1), which is one more than they lost at the City Ground in the whole of last season (W9 D5 L5)
- Forest have also conceded more home goals this term (17) than in 2024/25 (16)
- Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three Premier League games against Nottingham Forest, which is their longest run of league shutouts against the Tricky Trees
- Following a 0-0 at home to Liverpool in their last Premier League game, Arsenal could fail to score in consecutive league games for the third time since 2022/23
- On both occasions when that happened, the second game came at Nottingham Forest (May 2023, February 2025)
- Excluding penalties, Arsenal have scored more set-piece goals than any other side in the Premier League this season (14), while only Bournemouth (14) have conceded more from set plays than Forest (13)
- The Gunners are the only side not to have trailed by at least two goals in a Premier League game this season, last doing so at Liverpool last May
- Forest manager Sean Dyche has never seen his sides score more than once in a Premier League game against Arsenal, netting eight goals in 19 meetings
- The Englishman has won two of these 19 games, with Burnley in December 2020 and Everton in February 2023
- Morgan Gibbs-White has scored in his last two Premier League games and is Nottingham Forest’s highest league scorer this season with five goals
- Gibbs-White is one goal or assist away from becoming the first Forest player to register 50 goal involvements in the Premier League (22 goals, 27 assists)
- No player has been directly involved in more shots following a ball carry in the Premier League this season than Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (33 – 19 shots, 14 chances created)
Premier League results and fixtures this weekend
Saturday’s action began with Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu scoring in United’s first home league match since the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.
All matches start at 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT unless stated otherwise.
Saturday, January 17
Man United 2-0 Man City
Chelsea vs Brentford
Leeds United vs Fulham
Liverpool vs Burnley
Sunderland vs Crystal Palace
Tottenham vs West Ham
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal (17:30)
Sunday, January 18
Wolves vs Newcastle (14:00)
Aston Villa vs Everton (16:30)
Monday, January 19
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Bournemouth (20:00)
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