The Gunners returned after a two-week break to comprehensively beat Palace in a reassuring performance. They will need more of that to get the better of Forest who can cause problems in their home ground.
There is only one injury problem for Mikel Arteta to worry about and that is Jurrien Timber. The former Ajax man who was injured in the season’s first match against Forest is still on the recovery road. There is some optimism that we could be seeing him soon.
The good news is that Thomas Partey is back in training and that gives the midfield a huge boost, although it is unlikely that he will take any part in this game. Having a player of his caliber allows Arteta to rotate his players a lot more and they can adapt to different opponents.
Mohamed Elneny is unavailable having just returned from International duty, while a call on the availability of Declan Rice and Gabriel will be taken just before the game.
Arsenal Fever View:
For the north Londoners, the main danger lies in the form of Chris Wood whose aerial ability is exceptional. If he can be taken care of, it drastically increases the winning chances of the visitors.
That also depends on how much of an influence Bukayo Saka is allowed to have. The word allowed is key because teams will try their best to give him as little time as possible. The England international has shown that he can find solutions to problems thrown at him and the team’s fortunes will be based on how well he can do that.
What will make Arteta happy is that the team looked a lot more refreshed against Palace as a result of the break they had. With games coming thick and fast, there may not be time to take a breather, so these short breaks are essential.
Arsenal can add some much-needed momentum to their season by getting a few wins on the trot. Each game is an opportunity, and it is up to the players to make use of it. Arteta knows what his team is capable of and would want them to show it at the City Ground.
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