Nottingham Forest host Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday aiming to cause a huge upset.
WATCH — Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
For live updates and highlights throughout Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal, check out PST’s live blog coverage below.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal live score: 0-0
How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday (January 17)
Venue: City Ground — Nottingham
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com and Stream live on Peacock
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal live updates — by Nick Mendola
Saka pays immediate dividends
Saka takes the ball off a sleepy Neco Williams and drives the end line.
He crosses toward the top of the box and Declan Rice’s half-volley bounds toward the line.
It’s not full power, and Forest keeper Matz Sels is able to keep the game scoreless.
Arteta flips three switches
With Champions League ahead and a League Cup semifinal first leg behind, there was always going to be managed minutes.
Off go Odegaard, Madueke, and Gyokeres for Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka in the 57th minute.
One sub at the break
Trossard replaces Martinelli, who does not have a Premier League goal or assist since Sept. 21 versus Man City.
He’s scored a fair few in other competitions including a recent hat trick against Pompey in the FA Cup, but the stats are the stats.
Halftime — Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal
A missed chance from an acute angle for Gabriel Martinelli and a deflected shot on a partial breakaway from Viktor Gyokeres do not qualify as a great work from the Gunners.
Arsenal did grow possession to 60% by halftime and are holding the shot attempts lead at 8-3.
There are game-changers like crazy on the bench in Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz. Mikel Merino, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Cristhian Mosquera are also options in steadier spots.
Mikel Arteta might be furious
Don’t know what to say about this half from Arsenal, who seem caught a bit off guard by a Sean Dyche team looking hungry at home.
Murillo giveth and taketh away
A poor play by Murillo gives Viktor Gyokeres a partial breakaway.
The Swede does good physical work to ensure a shot attempt, but Murillo saves himself blushes by deflecting Gyokeres’ shot with a desperation slide/lunge.
Jurrien Timber yellow card
The left back is cautioned for a foul just outside the area.
Forest doing just fine, thanks
The Tricky Trees have been hanging around 47% possession after a positive spell, and they have the only shot attempt in the game so far.
0-0, 13′.
Good afternoon. An especially good afternoon to Arsenal?
The Gunners have already seen Liverpool draw and Manchester City lose, and can go nine points clear of City and Aston Villa before the Villans play Everton on Sunday.
As for Forest, their task today was going to be difficult either way but it won’t feel any easier given West Ham’s win over Spurs to close within four points of the Tricky Trees’ 17th place spot.
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Sangare, Dominguez, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Igor Jesus
Arsenal lineup
Raya, White, Saliba, Magalhaes, Timber, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Despite an upturn in results when he arrived Sean Dyche’s Forest have only won one of their last five in the Premier League (that was a big win at fellow relegation candidates West Ham last time out) and they are still in the relegation scrap. They also lost to second-tier Wrexham in the FA Cup third round and despite some positive results in the UEFA Europa League, Dyche could really do with a positive display and result against Arsenal.
But that doesn’t look likely because the Gunners are clicking through the gears. Yes, they drew 0-0 at home against Liverpool last time out in the Premier League. But they are six points clear atop the table and in midweek they won 3-2 at Chelsea in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal. Mikel Arteta is rotating his squad expertly and Arsenal fans everywhere are saying something quietly: “we are still on for the quadruple…”
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
Chris Wood is still missing through injury and that has been a big blow for Forest this season. Morgan Gibbs-White, Omari Hutchinson and Callum Hudson-Odoi have looked really dangerous as an attacking midfield trio in recent weeks, while Igor Jesus is putting himself about up top but looks like he could use a break. Ryan Yates is close to a return but goalkeeper John Victor is out for a few more weeks with a knee injury so Matz Sels will remain in goal. Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare are both back from AFCON and should be available, with the latter having a huge role to play in the final months of the season.
Arsenal team news, focus
Cristhian Mosquera, Max Dowman, Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori all remain out but Arsenal’s squad is stacked and there are so many options. Will Viktor Gyokeres keep his place up top? Or will Gabriel Jesus start? Kai Havertz is also pushing for minutes and there is serious competition all over the pitch as Arteta has shuffled his pack extremely well over the busy festive period.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal prediction
This feels like Arsenal will be able to create chances galore against Forest but they have to start the game well. They will. Nottingham Forest 1-3 Arsenal.
