Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal meet Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium, as the Gunners look to kick off another title challenge.
Arsenal enter this season looking to mount another title challenge after falling short last season against Manchester City.
Forest meanwhile will be looking to build upon their 16th-placed finish of last season with a strong result to kick-start their season.
Team News
Jorginho is a doubt for Arsenal as he continues to recover from a muscle injury which forced him to miss their Community Shield victory last weekend.
Reiss Nelson and Folarin Balogun (both foot) are doubts but Oleksandr Zinchenko, Albert Sambi Lokonga (both muscle), Mohamed Elneny and Gabriel Jesus (both knee) remain absent
Forest could be without Taiwo Awoniyi after he suffered an ankle sprain in a friendly defeat to Leeds a fortnight ago.
Matt Turner, Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga could all make their debuts here for Forest, although it would see Turner facing his former team just days after he made the switch from the Gunners.
Wayne Hennessey, Felipe (both knee), Moussa Niakhate (elbow) and Omar Richards (groin) are ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Arsenal meet Forest at Emirates Stadium on Saturday 11 August in a 12:30pm BST kick-off, live on TNT Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have won five of their last seven Premier League meetings against Forest (W5, L2).
- Forest lost their only previous Premier League visit to Arsenal’s current home – Emirates Stadium (L1), in which they suffered a 5-0 defeat in October 2022.
- The home team in each of Arsenal’s last four meetings against Forest in all competitions have won without conceding.
- Arteta’s Gunners have won three of their last five opening weekend fixtures in a new season (W3, L2).
- Forest are winless in their last five opening weekend fixtures in a new season (D1, L4).
Prediction
With confidence high after beating Man City on penalties to win the Community Shield, Arsenal will come into this match ready to lay down their marker for another title challenge but they must show more energy and clinical finishing that they displayed at Wembley.
Forest meanwhile haven’t exactly had a strong pre-season whilst their Premier League record against Arsenal is poor, but they can take heart from their home win against the Gunners last season although scoring first here could well be crucial.
I however don’t see that happening but Forest should really have enough about them to at least avoid another five-goal thrashing which they received here last season, especially if Turner passes his experience onto his new teammates effectively and they can defend better on the road.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Result: Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest