Prediction: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 13/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Premier League leaders Arsenal continue their pursuit of glory on all fronts as they travel north to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.

Fresh from a narrow EFL Cup semi-final win over Chelsea, the Gunners aim to maintain their dominance, while Forest look to bounce back from FA Cup heartbreak.

Nottingham Forest

Forest’s FA Cup dreams were shattered in dramatic fashion last weekend, as they fell to Wrexham on penalties after a chaotic 3-3 draw. Igor Jesus and Omari Hutchinson missed from the spot, denied by former Arsenal academy graduate Arthur Okonkwo, leaving Sean Dyche’s men nursing their fifth defeat in six matches across all competitions.

Dyche did not hold back in his post-match assessment, blasting a woeful first-half display before praising the second-half fightback. That cup exit came just days after a morale-boosting 2-1 win over West Ham—a crucial result in the relegation battle that lifted Forest seven points clear of the drop zone.

However, the City Ground has not been a happy hunting ground this season. Forest have already lost six home league games in 2025-26—one more than in the entirety of last term—and now face an Arsenal side that beat them 3-0 at the Emirates in September. That defeat marked Forest’s third consecutive Premier League game without scoring against the Gunners, their longest-ever drought in this fixture.

Team News

Oleksandr Zinchenko is ineligible against his parent club and could see his loan terminated this month. Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare return from AFCON duty, while Ryan Yates is back in training after a thigh injury.

Chris Wood remains sidelined with a knee problem, and goalkeeper John Victor is also unavailable following minor surgery.

Arsenal

Arsenal edged Chelsea 3-2 in Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg, though the scoreline flattered the Blues after Alejandro Garnacho’s late brace. The Gunners’ victory was significant—it marked their first win in a two-legged semi-final under Mikel Arteta after eight previous failures.

That triumph followed a 4-1 FA Cup win over Portsmouth, ensuring an emphatic response to their frustrating league draw with Liverpool. Arsenal remain six points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa at the summit, though City could halve the gap before kickoff by beating Manchester United in Saturday’s early derby.

Arteta’s men are in scintillating form, with nine wins and a draw from their last 10 matches in all competitions. Away from home, they have won five in a row, scoring at least three goals in four of those victories—including each of their last three.

Team News

William Saliba and Leandro Trossard shook off knocks to start against Chelsea, but Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Max Dowman, and Cristhian Mosquera remain sidelined.

Viktor Gyokeres, who starred with a goal and assist at Stamford Bridge, should lead the line ahead of Gabriel Jesus, while Gabriel Martinelli and David Raya are expected to return to the XI.

Head-to-Head

Arsenal have dominated recent meetings, winning three straight Premier League games against Forest without conceding. The Gunners’ 3-0 win earlier this season extended Forest’s longest-ever scoring drought in this fixture, and Arteta’s side will be confident of continuing that trend.

Conclusion

Forest’s home struggles and Arsenal’s rampant away form point to a clear outcome.

Dyche’s men may find a way to trouble a weakened Gunners defence, but any goal is likely to be a consolation as Arsenal maintain their grip on top spot with another convincing victory.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 13/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet