STAR FOOTBALL PREVIEW Sat: Nottm Forest v Arsenal

As Nottingham Forest look to stave off the drop, second place Arsenal arrive at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon knowing anything less than a win ends their title hopes.

Steve Cooper has been in the wars this season, fighting to rebuild his squad last summer, for his job and now against relegation after an inconsistent first season back in the Premier League has the Reds sitting precariously in 16th, three points above Sean Dyche’s Everton.

However, despite an impressive 3-1 against Brighton, a thrilling 4-3 against relegated rivals Southampton and a fighting 2-2 at Chelsea, their clear issue is conceding goals, which is not the sort of problem you want when Arsenal with their 83 scored are in town and desperate.

With four goals in his last two games, Taiwo Awoniyi (8 goals) is vital for Forest as will be £45m starman Morgan Gibbs-White (5 goals). They’re safe for now, but with such a tight relegation race, anything can happen.

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Premier League
17.30 / Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Premier League

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
OCT 2022 PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal 5-0 Forest
JAN 2022 FA CUP Forest 1-0 Arsenal
SEP 2019 LEAGUE CUP Arsenal 5-0 Forest
JAN 2018 FA CUP Forest 4-2 Arsenal
SEP 2016 LEAGUE CUP Forest 0-4 Arsenal
JAN 1999 PREMIER LEAGUE Forest 0-1 Arsenal
AUG 1998 PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal 2-1 Forest
MAR 1997 PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal 2-0 Forest
DEC 1996 PREMIER LEAGUE Forest 2-1 Arsenal
FEB 1996 PREMIER LEAGUE Forest 0-1 Arsenal

Aiming to bounce back from their crushing 3-0 loss to Brighton, in another recent performance that’s fallen below their high standards, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal simply must win to keep the title race alive. Anything less than 3 points on Saturday afternoon and Manchester City – on the verge of a treble after their midweek exploits – will be lifting the trophy on Sunday.

This has been an extraordinary season for Arsenal and wherever the league title ends up, this young team pioneered by Bukayo Saka Martin Odegaard in particular, can be proud of a phenomenal campaign.

However, without the much-missed centreback William Saliba, Oleks Zinchenko and Gabriel Martinelli (15 goals), a visit to the noisy City Ground where so many of the League’s big hitters have stumbled poses challenges, especially when Forest could secure safety depending on other results. 8/15 with starsports.bet about an away win makes little appeal and goals could be the best option here.

Arsenal’s defensive capability has suffered massively without Saliba – but they still pack a huge punch going forward – whilst Forest have beaten Brighton 3-1 and Southampton 4-3 in their last two home matches. Backers of over 3.5 goals can get a solid run for their money.

WILLIAM KEDJANYI

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PROFIT/LOSS (MAY 2023): LOSS -19.26 points