Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Preview, prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds | Premier League 2025-26

Arsenal will be looking to come back from the Liverpool defeat

Arsenal are set to host Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium in Matchday 4 of the English Premier League 2025-26. The defeat against Liverpool before the international break hurt Arsenal, but the team are now looking to bounce back.

Despite winning two of the first three matches and conceding only one goal, injury concerns have increased for the team. Especially the absence of Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Kai Havertz can affect their attack and defensive balance. In such a situation, new signing Eberechi Eze can be in the starting lineup with his full potential and add new energy to the attack.

On the other hand, Nottingham Forest are moving in a new direction. The appointment of Ange Postecoglou has brought freshness to their game. With 4 points from three matches, they are currently 10th in the Premier League table. Forest will want to turn the tables by taking advantage of Arsenal’s injuries.

Postecoglou’s tactics are much more aggressive than before, which can make the match open and fast-paced. Forest’s problems are also not less, though, with Nicolás Domínguez and possibly Ola Aina unavailable.

It will now be up to Arsenal to find a balance in dealing with injuries and whether Forest can use the energy of a new coach to produce an unexpected result. Matches after international breaks are often challenging, and both teams will have to cope.

Here's your Premier League table following Matchweek 3 📊 pic.twitter.com/tMWcmYZBqd

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 31, 2025

Kick-off:

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Emirates Stadium
• Date: Saturday, September 13
• Kick-off time: 5:00 p.m. IST
• Referee: Darren England
• Assistant Referees: Scott Ledger, Nick Greenhalgh
• Fourth Official: Oliver Langford
• VAR: Andy Madley
• Assistant VAR: Marc Perry
• VAR: In use

Form (Premier League):

Arsenal (in all competitions): L-W-W

Nottingham Forest (in all competitions): L-D-W

Players to watch:

Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal):

Gabriel Martinelli will be a player to watch for Arsenal in this match. He was quiet against Liverpool, but his pace and ability to trouble the defence can make an impact at any moment. In the absence of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, the Gunners will be looking for him to shine in attack as he can suddenly change the direction of the game.

In the Premier League, against Nottingham Forest, across three games, he has scored one goal and provided one assist. In the FA Cup, across one game, he has not scored or assisted. In the EFL Cup, in Martinelli’s debut start, he scored a brace against Nottingham Forest in a 5-0 victory.

Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest):

Nottingham Forest fans will have high expectations from Morgan Gibbs-White in this match. This season, he has been a mainstay of the team’s attack and has consistently created chances. He has an assist to his name and has proven to be a key part of new manager Ange Postecoglou’s tactics.

Morgan Gibbs-White has played five matches against Arsenal for Wolves and three for Nottingham Forest. Despite not scoring a goal, he has been the main architect of Forest’s attack this season.

Match Facts:

• Arsenal have an impressive record against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium. They have won six consecutive home matches in the Premier League and are unbeaten in 14 league matches against Forest since March 1989.
• This match will be the first match of Nottingham Forest’s new manager, Ange Postecoglou, which adds a different excitement to the match. However, their Premier League record against Arsenal is also weak, with just one point from four matches.
• Arsenal are struggling with injuries at the moment. Key players like William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz could be out of the field. This could affect both their attack and defence, and will allow Forest to find opportunities.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: Betting Tips and Odds:

• Arsenal win: 1.62 as per 1xBet.
• Both teams to score – No: 1.78 as per 1Win.
• Over 2.5 goals: 1.72 as per Winmatch.

Note: Odds are subject to constant changes.

Injuries and Team News:

Arsenal’s injury list continues to grow and is affecting the balance of the team. William Saliba suffered an ankle injury against Liverpool and could be out of action for several weeks. Bukayo Saka is struggling with a hamstring problem and is unlikely to be fit for this match.

Kai Havertz has recently undergone knee surgery, and his return date is yet to be confirmed. Gabriel Jesus has been out for a long time with a serious knee injury and is aiming to return to the field before the end of the year. Christian Norgaard, who joined the summer, is also not fully fit yet, and there is uncertainty over his availability.

Nottingham Forest have suffered several setbacks ahead of this match. Oleksandr Zinchenko will not be able to play against his parent club Arsenal as he is currently on loan. This will clearly show Forest’s lack of defensive options and may affect the team’s preparation.

Nicolás Domínguez is already out with a knee meniscus injury and is unlikely to return until the autumn. Ola Aina suffered a hamstring problem during the international match and now his availability has been questioned. These circumstances have made Forest’s team combination difficult.

Head-To-Head stats:

Total matches: 107

Arsenal won: 55

Nottingham Forest won: 29

Draw: 23

Predicted Starting Lineup:

Arsenal Predicted Starting Lineup (4-3-3):

Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Martinelli, Gyokeres, Eze

Nottingham Forest Predicted Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):

Sels; Savona, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Yates; McAtee, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Match Prediction:

Despite a recent loss and some injury concerns, Arsenal’s strong home record and overall form make them the favourites. Forest have a poor away record against Arsenal, including losing their last six Premier League visits to the Emirates.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Telecast Details

India: JioHotStar, Star Sports Network

UK: Sky Sports Football, TNT Sports

US: NBC Sports

Nigeria: SuperSport

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