The omens are optimistic for Mikel Arteta heading into Arsenal‘s journey to the Metropolis Floor on Sunday afternoon.
In six profession conferences with new Nottingham Forest boss, Oliver Glasner, the Spaniard is but to endure a defeat towards the German, successful 5 instances and drawing simply as soon as to date.
What the result can be this time round stays to be seen, with the Gunners having been unbeaten towards the Tough Timber final season.
How Arsenal fared towards Forest final season
Beginning with the assembly in January, it actually wasn’t a thriller in Nottingham, with neither facet really registering a shot on track within the first half.
Gabriel Martinelli, a person since offered on by Arteta, did squander a presentable opening earlier than the break, whereas the second 45 additionally noticed Matz Sels deny Bukayo Saka with a powerful, important save.
Late Arsenal appeals for a penalty, following a ‘handball’ by Ola Aina, had been additionally waved away, with the guests held to a goalless draw to make sure they missed the prospect to maneuver 9 factors clear on the summit.
Sean Dyche had been on the helm on the time for the hosts, though again in September, the 2 golf equipment had met throughout Ange Postecoglou’s temporary, ill-fated reign accountable for Forest.
It was really the previous Tottenham Hotspur man’s first sport on the helm, but the outcome set the tone for what was to observe, as a Viktor Gyokeres strike, alongside a Martin Zubimendi double, secured a cushty win for the Emirates facet.
Let’s hope it is extra of the identical on Sunday.
Arsenal workforce information vs Forest
It stays to be seen how the Gunners will line up this time round, with Arteta having gone sturdy for the eventual 3-0 win over Lille in midweek.
Sure choice selections have been somewhat enforced, after all, with the north London facet nonetheless having to take care of a handful of harm considerations.
Talking in his pre-match press convention on Friday, Arteta confirmed that whereas Piero Hincapie is making good progress in his restoration, the South American left-back will “in all probability want one other week or two”.
As for Zubimendi, following the Spaniard’s absence towards Lille, it stays unsure as as to if he can be again in competition, with a late evaluation set to be made.
Elsewhere, William Saliba stays one other notable absentee, albeit with Arteta revealing that the Frenchman’s restoration is wanting “very, very optimistic”, whereas Christos Tzolis is ready to be again “in just a few weeks”.
The lack of Tzolis has supplied a specific headache for the Arsenal boss, with it maybe time to unleash Max Dowman on this ahead line as an alternative.
Why Dowman might now begin forward of £120m Arsenal duo
It took a seven-minute, second-half blitz for Arsenal to click on into gear on Tuesday night time, with the introduction of the ‘massive weapons’ working wonders for the hosts.
On got here Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka on the Sixty fifth-minute mark, simply moments after Jurrien Timber had opened the scoring in fashion.
Saka subsequently supplied the help for Eberechi Eze’s aim, whereas Havertz was the person to produce the help for Saka to make it 3-0 and seal the win for the Premier League champions.
You’d anticipated the Englishman, alongside Havertz and Odegaard, to start out once more this time round, albeit with there nonetheless some uncertainty over who the ultimate member of the ahead line ought to be.
Maybe it could be a case of shifting Saka over to the left as a way to accommodate younger Dowman on the suitable, the 16-year-old nonetheless ready for normal, constant sport time at Premier League stage.
Arteta is correct to be easing him in slowly as a way to mood expectations, but, let’s face it, the horse has already bolted in that sense.
Dowman was notably mesmeric within the Carabao Cup overcome Ipswich City, bagging a brace in that thumping 4-2 win, together with that beautiful, solo aim for the opener.
He little question had his moments final season too, be it working the present away at Mansfield, or offering the decisive act late on towards Everton, his last-gasp aim that night time maybe the defining picture of Arsenal’s title triumph.
Repeatedly, {the teenager} has proven what he can do, with there certainly good cause to look to him this time round, as an alternative of Arteta’s £120m duo of Eze and Madueke.
That pair have the seniority over Dowman, though the youthful man have to be quietly livid at being missed for 2 forwards who simply have not ever delivered constantly in an Arsenal shirt.
In fact, Eze did rifle in towards Lille in midweek, but the previous Crystal Palace talisman has recorded simply two aim involvements in eight video games in all competitions this season.
|
Madueke vs Lille |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes performed |
65 |
|
Touches |
58 |
|
Photographs |
1 |
|
Photographs on track |
0 |
|
Key passes |
1 |
|
Correct crosses |
1/15 |
|
Profitable dribbles |
1/3 |
|
Carries |
27 |
|
Defensive contributions |
0 |
As for Madueke, the ex-Chelsea speedster received the nod off the left in Tzolis’ absence towards Leeds United, but for all of the endeavour, there stays a irritating lack of finish product.
The left-footer is pacy and direct, however once more he is solely contributed two objectives and assists in seven outings this season. His profession Premier League file, in the meantime, stands at simply 16 objectives and eight assists in 96 video games to this point.
Contemplating Dowman, at 16, has two aim contributions to his title from simply three senior appearances in 2026/27 says all of it, in reality, with it maybe time that he completely moved forward of each Eze and Madueke within the attacking pecking order.
