Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

This game will likely be a cagey encounter as both sides are in need of the win for different reasons, with Nottingham Forest desperately attempting to maintain their place in the Champions League qualification places, while Arsenal will be keen to help their chances in what looks like a dwindling fight for their first Premier League title since the 2003/04 season.

Something that makes this game more intriguing, is the fact that Forest have the fifth-best home record in the division, having won seven, drawn three and lost just two at home, while Arsenal’s away record is the second-best in the Premier League, having accumulated 25 points from 13 matches.

The City Ground is something of a bogey ground for the Gunners, as they’ve lost three of their last four visits there. Due to their injury crisis in forward positions, it is hard to see Arsenal having the fire power to get them over the line for three points, but, it must be noted that they have conceded just 12 times away from home in the Premier League this campaign.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Arsenal

Third-place Nottingham Forest hosts second-place Arsenal at the City Ground in what feels like a must-win game for both sides if they are to have any chance of maintaining their aspirations between now and the end of the season.

Date: 26/02/2025

Location: City Ground

Time: 7:30pm

When these two sides last met in the Premier League back on 23rd November, Arsenal ran out as comfortable 3-0 victors at the Emirates Stadium as Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Ethan Nwaneri all got on the scoresheet.

Nuno Espírito Santo has done a superb job at Nottingham Forest since joining them back in December 2023, having oversaw their successful fight against relegation last season with a 17th-place finish, before this campaign’s stunning Premier League performance that sees them sit third in the standings with 47 points from 26 games, just six fewer than Arsenal.

The points tally itself is a magnificent achievement, as Forest managed 38 points in the 2022/23 season, before regressing to 32 points in 2023/24. The Portuguese manager has made a tight-knit squad at the City Ground, while some of their most notable performers have been centre-back duo Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, as well as Chris Wood, with the New Zealand international firing in a stunning 18 goals in 26 matches, only behind Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah in the goalscoring charts.

On top of their superb Premier League campaign, Forest have advanced to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup where they’ll face Ipswich Town having progressed past Exeter City on penalties after a 2-2 draw, while also beating Luton Town 2-0 in the Third Round.

Some notable results for Forest this season have been victories at Anfield against Liverpool (1-0) and Old Trafford versus Manchester United (3-2) while their most memorable display arguably came at home to Brighton on 1st February when they thrashed the Seagulls 7-0 thanks to goals by Lewis Dunk (own goal), Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood (3), Neco Williams and Jota Silva.

Arsenal may well look back on this season with regret should they fail to win the Premier League, having finished as runner-up to Manchester City in each of the last two seasons before struggling to cope with a resurgent Liverpool side this campaign.

The Gunners failed to recruit an adequate goalscoring threat up front, something that has come back to bit them, especially when considering the long-term injuries that Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have recently suffered.

Mikel Arteta’s men actually have the best defensive record in the Premier League having conceded just 23 times in 26 matches, however, they have scored 51 times, which is 13 fewer than Liverpool and are often regarded as being far too reliant on set pieces to win them games.

Unless there is a miracle in the Premier League title race, or, Arsenal can make a challenge for the UEFA Champions League, it looks likely that they’ll be trophyless for a fifth straight season when excluding Community Shields, as they were knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle at the semi-final stage, while in the FA Cup, Manchester United beat them on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a game that saw United reduced to 10-men around the hour mark following Diogo Dalot’s red card.

The Gunners finished third in the Champions League Group Stage with 19 points from eight matches and will face PSV in the Round of 16, meaning that they will likely face one of Atlético Madrid or Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

Nottingham Forest versus Arsenal will be broadcast live to UK Subscribers of TNT Sports 2.

Nottingham Forest

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have no injury or suspension worries heading into their clash with Arsenal on Wednesday night.

Arsenal

Arsenal will be without the likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka for their trip to the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest have won two of their last five matches, with those victories coming at home to Brighton via a 7-0 scoreline and away at Exeter City in the FA Cup Fourth Round (4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw).

Something that will concern Nuno Espírito Santo, is their defeats, having lost their last three league away matches to AFC Bournemouth (5-0), Fulham (2-1) and Newcastle United (4-3).

Arsenal

Arsenal’s title hopes suffered a severe dent last time out as they were beaten 1-0 at home by West Ham United as Jarrod Bowen fired in the only goal of the game.

Prior to that defeat, they had beaten Leicester City 2-0 thanks to a Mikel Merino brace, after a 4-0 aggregate League Cup loss to Newcastle United. Mikel Arteta’s men earned further victories over Manchester City (5-1) and Girona (2-1).

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