Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Preview: Gunners Return to the City Ground

Arsenal travel to Nottingham

Nottingham Forest host Arsenal at the City Ground on Sunday 18 October 2026 in a Premier League Matchday 7 fixture. Kick-off is at 6:30 pm Kenyan time (EAT), and Michael Oliver is the referee.

Arsenal's form

Arsenal, the reigning champions, are second in the table with 15 points from six games, with five wins and one defeat. That defeat was a 3-0 loss to Brighton. They recovered with a 2-1 comeback win over Leeds last weekend, with Calafiori and Guimarães on the scoresheet, and a 3-0 Champions League win over Lille in midweek, in which Timber, Eze and Saka scored.

There is one concern at the back. Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in their last three matches and have conceded six goals in their last four games.

Forest's season so far

Forest have had a difficult start. Their last five games include a 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace,

in which they dominated for long spells and created eight big chances but still lost. Before that they lost 1-0 to Coventry, beat Aston Villa 2-1, and drew 0-0 with Tottenham and 2-2 with Liverpool. They are winless at home in all competitions this season.

Team news

Forest will be without Igor Jesus (calf), Nikola Milenkovic (knee) and Nicolò Savona (knee). Arsenal are missing William Saliba and Christos Tzolis, who are both injured. ESPN's predicted line-ups show Forest in a 3-4-2-1 shape with Morgan Gibbs-White and Ndoye behind Delap, and Arsenal with Saka, Ødegaard and Madueke supporting Havertz.

Predicted line-ups from ESPN show Forest with Sels in goal, a back three of Aina, Diomande and Murillo, and Muñoz, Schlager, McAtee and Williams across midfield. Arsenal could start with Raya in goal, White, Konsa, Gabriel and Calafiori in defence, and Rice and Lewis-Skelly in midfield. These are predictions, and the teams are unconfirmed.

History at the City Ground

Arsenal have won three of the last five meetings, with two draws. Both of those draws were 0-0 at the City Ground, including the most recent meeting there in January 2026. The two sides took 40 shots without scoring across their last two games at the City Ground.

What to watch

Forest have created chances in recent games without turning them into results, and the key question is whether that changes against an Arsenal side that has shown some defensive uncertainty. Arsenal will want to end their run without a clean sheet and stay in touch at the top of the table.

View our predictions for this match: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal, Sunday 18th October 2026