Game Week 12 Predictions: Arsenal to beat Forest

Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest preview: Injury updates, key players, and tactical analysis as the Gunners aim to bounce back at the Emirates.

Arsenal's season must get the kick it needs this weekend when they face Nottingham Forest at the Emirates, will the Gunners respond? (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest

Emirates Stadium

4:00pm

From now on, things should improve for the Gunners; they have endured a difficult run of games, particularly on the road, with the most recent one ending in a stalemate at Chelsea.

Arsenal's title hopes continue to falter, with no win in their last three league games. This is not due to a lack of effort, but excuses won't be acceptable at the end of the season, especially with Mikel Arteta in his fifth season at the club.

Nottingham Forest is excelling; Chris Wood's performance is impressive, ranking high on the goal scorers' chart, and Arsenal defenders should be cautious of his form. Forest lies only four points behind Manchester City in second and level with Chelsea and Arsenal; a win at the Emirates keeps them firmly in the top four.

How has Forest performed well this season? They've been precise at both ends of the pitch, with Wood scoring and the entire defense putting in a shift to keep opponents out.  They concede the odd goals, but they manage to outscore their opponents.

What has gone wrong for Arsenal this season? It's challenging to attribute Arsenal's problems solely to injuries, given that every other club in the league has occasionally struggled with similar issues. The defensive record that garnered praise last season has vanished as they now concede freely.

Martin Odegaard missed about two months of football, and that badly affected the Gunners. The Gunners missed his leadership in the middle, as Mikel Merino struggled to establish himself, and the manager's lack of trust in Ethan Nwanneri led them to rely on substitutes up front.

Whose players are available for this game?  We will assess Elliot Anderson's availability. The Gunners will see all the speedstars—Anthony Elanga, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Morgan Gibbs-White—available for action.

Nuno Espirito Santo could also deploy the Anfield strategy where he wore out the Liverpool team with hard-working players before sending on his speed demons to finish the job; whichever way, Arsenal must be vigilant.

Odegaard has rested enough; he should be available to help the Gunners on Saturday. Both Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice missed the England games, but they are both fit to face Forest. Ben White will not be playing, as Arteta has confirmed he had knee surgery and won't return until the new year; Ricardo Calafiori, on the other hand, is fit and should play.

Verdict: Arsenal to win.