WHILE Arsenal’s title charge is all but over, the Gunners can still make Manchester City work for it when they travel to the City Ground this evening.
But a defeat at Nottingham Forest would confirm Pep Guardiola’s side as Premier League champions.
And Mikel Arteta can be sure that the home side will be more than up for the occasion.
Victory for Forest would secure Premier League safety for Steve Cooper and Co if Leeds or Everton fail to win this weekend.
- Kick-off: 5.30pm
- TV channel/ live stream: Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League
- Nottingham Forest XI: Navas; Worrall, Felipe, Niakhate; Aurier, Mangala, Yates, Lodi; Gibbs-White, Danilo; Awoniyi
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Kiwior, Gabriel, Xhaka; Jorginho, Partey, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Jesus
BETTING SPECIAL – TIPS AND OFFERS FOR FOREST vs ARSENAL
Follow all of the latest updates below…
It’s the hope that kills you
Arsenal fans will tell you that the title race is over, but in private they will be hoping for a miracle.
The Gunners have spent 248 days at the top of the Premier League this season, but now have less than a 1% chance of winning it according to the Opta predictor model.
If Mikel Arteta’s team fail to win today, then it will be confirmed as the most days spent top of the table without finishing first in a single season in English top-flight history.
One hundred up for Aurier
Serge Aurier is proving to be a popular player down at the City Ground, and the right wing-back is set to make his 100th Premier League appearance this afternoon.
The former Tottenham man would love to seal the occasion with a crucial win over Arsenal.
Trossard and Partey in for Arsenal
Arsenal (4-3-3): 1 Ramsdale; 4 White, 15 Kiwior, 6 Gabriel, 34 Xhaka; 8 Odegaard, 20 Jorginho, 5 Partey; 7 Saka, 9 Jesus, 19 Trossard
Subs: 30 Turner, 3 Tierney, 10 Smith Rowe, 14 Nketiah, 16 Holding, 21 Vieira, 41 Bandeira, 85 Cozier-Duberry, 97 Walters
Forest unchanged for Arsenal visit
Steve Cooper keeps faith with the same starting XI that claimed a point from their trip to Stamford Bridge last weekend.
That means Danilo and Morgan Gibbs-White continue behind the in-form Taiwo Awoniyi, keeping Brennan Johnson on the bench.
Nott’m Forest (3-4-2-1): 12 Navas; 4 Worrall, 38 Felipe, 19 Niakhate; 24 Aurier, 5 Mangala, 22 Yates; 32 Renan Lodi; 10 Gibbs-White, 28 Danilo; 9 Awoniyi
Subs: 13 Hennessey, 15 Toffolo, 16 Surridge, 20 Johnson, 21 Kouyate, 23 Freuler, 25 Dennis, 30 Boly, 34 Ayew
Gunners eyeing another fantastic five
Arsenal swatted Nottingham Forest aside at the Emirates earlier this season with a five-star show, and now are aiming to rewrite the record books.
The Gunners have won their last four league matches against the Tricky Trees, but have never claimed five successive league wins against them in their history.
Forest 4/1 to shoot down Gunners
Nottingham Forest’s bid for survival has been built on their home form this season, and the bookies have priced them at an attractive 4/1 to add Arsenal to the list of sides they have seen off.
- Nott’m Forest win 4/1
- Draw 16/5
- Arsenal win 6/10
Odds from Betfair correct at the time of post publication.
Greetings from the City Ground
Welcome to live SunSport coverage of the Premier League clash between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.
The Gunners’ title hopes may have all but vanished after last weekend’s humbling by Brighton yet Mikel Arteta’s charges will want to sign off on a fabulous season in style.
At the very least, the Londoners will want to make Manchester City work to seal a third successive league win.
An away win on the banks of the Trent tonight will mean that the Citizens will have to beat Chelsea tomorrow to confirm themselves as champions this weekend.
If it’s a mere formality at the top, there is still plenty of work for Forest to do at the bottom.
Steve Cooper’s side have worked hard to get themselves on to 34 points, but even the most optimistic of Trent Enders believes that more is required from the final two games.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
