Nottingham Forest are looking for some respite from their recent struggles as they take on league leaders Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.
- Date: 17/01/2026
- Kick-off: 5:30pm
- Location: City Ground, Nottingham
Forest come into the round with 6 wins, 3 draws and 12 defeats from 21 league matches, while Arsenal stand much higher up the table with 15 wins, 4 draws and just 2 losses from their 21 games, underlining the scale of the task facing Sean Dyche’s side.
Forest’s season so far has been defined by inconsistency and a worrying home record. They have scored 21 league goals and conceded 34, averaging 1.0 scored and 1.62 conceded per match, leaving them with one of the weaker defensive records in the division. Their home form is particularly fragile, with 3 wins, 1 draw and 6 defeats, placing them among the worst performers at home this season and meaning only two clubs have lost more home games in the Premier League so far.
Recent form does not offer a dramatic break from that pattern. Over their last five league fixtures, Forest have collected a modest return, mixing one or two useful results with defeats in which defensive frailties have resurfaced, and they have struggled to generate consistent attacking threat against stronger opponents. Their BTTS rate over the season stands at around 38%, and matches average roughly 2.62 total goals, suggesting that while Forest games do produce goals, they are not among the very highest-event sides in the division, and a significant portion of their defeats have come in relatively one‑sided scorelines.
Arsenal arrive in Nottingham with the profile of a serious title contender. After 21 matches, they have 15 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats, scoring 40 goals (1.9 per game) and conceding just 14, giving them one of the best defensive records in the league and a goal difference that speaks to their control across most fixtures. Their recent run includes three straight league clean sheets against Forest, their longest such streak in this fixture, underlining how effectively they have managed this opponent in recent meetings.
In terms of underlying metrics, Arsenal’s numbers are among the league’s most impressive. Their overall xG for stands at 1.73 per match, rising to 1.85 at home and sitting at 1.61 away, while xG against is just 0.89 overall, with 1.11 away from the Emirates. That balance suggests a side that regularly generates good‑quality chances and, crucially, limits opponents to relatively low‑value opportunities, which is reflected in their low goals‑against figure and the frequency with which they control shot counts and territory.
Based on that, it's hard to see any outcome outside of an away victory here, and one that will likely be quite comfortable for the league leaders.
Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal
