Arsenal-Nottingham Forest is a match valid for the first day of the Premier League and is played on Saturday at 1:30 pm: TV, lineups, predictions.
It wasn’t a rematch, but Arsenal’s victory over Manchester City last Sunday at Wembley in the match awarding the Community Shield, the first trophy of the season, certainly had a special flavor for Gunners fans.
Mostly because of how it came: in fact, Guardiola’s team was already looking forward to yet another title, but in the eighth minute of stoppage time – by the way, from this season they will be longer in the Premier League as well – a goal by Leandro Trossard put the score back on even terms, sending the match to penalties. From the penalty spot the Londoners came out on top, “avenging” only in part the bitter disappointment suffered last season, with City, after chasing practically the entire tournament, making the decisive breakthrough in the last few days, thus thwarting the dream of Arsenal and its coach Mikel Arteta to return to the roof of England. The Gunners want to try again, although this time they will have to deal with the weight of expectations. The club meanwhile spared no expense in the market, buying Declan Rice from West Ham for about £100 million, in addition to Havertz (£75 million) and Timber (£40 million). At the same time, there have been no major disposals, except that of former captain Xhaka, who ended up at Leverkusen for “only” 15 million.
It has so far added few pawns instead Nottingham Forest, which is trying to shore up a roster literally turned upside down last summer after promotion.
Boly of Nottingham Forest
The Tricky Trees have saved themselves with several rounds ahead despite a disastrous away performance to say the least, a trend that will necessarily have to be changed if the goal is to stay in the Premier League one more year. Steve Cooper is still on the bench but the results in the pre-season friendlies – four defeats in seven games – have raised some doubts. Meanwhile, Forest has just found its starting goalkeeper, who comes right from Arsenal: he is former Ramsdale deputy Matt Turner.
The Prediction
Buoyed by success in the Community Shield, Arteta and his side should debut with a win. Nottingham Forest disappointed in the preseason and among other things during the Cooper management never shined away from the City Ground. Gunners favored in a match of at least three goals overall.
The likely lineups for Arsenal-Nottingham Forest
- ARSENAL (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
- NOTTINGHAM FOREST (3-5-2): Turner; Worrall, Boly, McKenna; Aurier, Yates, Danilo, Mangala, Ola Aina; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-0
