Arsenal predicted line-up against Nottingham Forest, Arsenal XI and injury news as Gunners play without four stars.
Arsenal can return to the top of the Premier League on Sunday afternoon by beating struggling Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.
It’s been a tough week for Mikel Arteta’s side.
They could only muster a 1-1 draw against Southampton at St Mary’s in their last Premier League outing seven days ago and suffered a 2-0 defeat at PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
Champions Manchester City have jumped ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League following their 1-0 win at Leicester on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners are expected to beat Forest, as Steve Cooper’s side are bottom of the table after winning just two games.
“There’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves,” insisted Arteta.
“We have to react. On Sunday, we have a really important game, and then we’ll look to Zurich [in the Europa League]. We have to be much better than we were [against PSV]… It wasn’t good enough.”
Arteta is set to have plenty of players at his disposal on Sunday afternoon, with only four stars on the injury list.
Mohamed Elneny (hamstring) and Emile Smith Rowe (groin) are long-term absentees, while Oleksandr Zinchenko and Marquinhos are doubts.
Arsenal have confirmed the calf injury that’s kept Zinchenko out for the last nine games is still causing him bother and Marquinhos is yet to shake off the illness that ruled him out of the defeat to PSV.
Both players are expected to face late fitness tests.
The good news for Arteta is Matt Turner is set to return to the squad after missing the PSV game with a groin injury, although Aaron Ramsdale who made a mistake in midweek is almost certain to start in goal as Arsenal’s undisputed first choice.
Arteta’s preferred partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are expected to continue at centre-back, with Ben White slotting in at right-back.
Kieran Tierney is likely to occupy the other full-back role, although Takehiro Tomiyasu is also in contention.
Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are both fit and there is no reason why they won’t start together in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.
Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard is likely to be deployed in his preferred position of attacking midfield.
Fabio Vieira has impressed for Arsenal since his summer transfer from Porto and he’ll be pushing for a start.
Arteta usually plays a front three of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli and they are all available to lead the line on Sunday afternoon.
Forest boss Cooper is expected to be without four players for the Premier League clash.
Moussa Niakhate and Harry Toffolo both have hamstring injuries, while Omar Richards (leg) and Jack Colback (back) are also out. Lewis O’Brien (illness) is a doubt for Forest.
Possible Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest: Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney, Thomas Parety, Grant Xhaka, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli.
