Arsenal host Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening, and Mikel Arteta has several selection headaches to deal with ahead of the encounter.
Forest underwent a managerial change this week, sacking Nuno Espirito Santo and replacing him with Ange Postecoglou.
Arsenal fans are confident they can thrash Postecoglou’s new team, feeling the Australian’s high line will be exposed against the Gunners’ quick forwards.
Mikel Arteta’s side need a result after falling to defeat against Liverpool at Anfield prior to the international break.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Nottingham Forest
Arsenal will be without Bukayo Saka for the visit of Forest, with the England international still recovering from a hamstring injury.
William Saliba will also be unavailable, although Ben White and Christian Norgaard should be in contention after returning to training following injury lay-offs.
Aside from Saliba and Saka, as well as long-term absentees Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, Arteta should have almost the entirety of his squad to select from on Saturday.
Cristhian Mosquera will likely come in for the Frenchman after impressing in this role on Merseyside.
Meanwhile, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori will likely retain their places despite competition from other full-back options in Arsenal’s squad.
Martin Odegaard should come back into the side after being left on the bench for the Liverpool game due to a shoulder injury, accompanying Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice in midfield.
As for the front three, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke pick themselves due to Saka and Havertz both being unavailable.
On the left wing, however, Arteta has a decision to make. Gabriel Martinelli struggled against Liverpool, while Leandro Trossard has hardly featured so far this season.
This means Eberechi Eze should make his full debut for the Gunners in this position.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Nottingham Forest: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze.
Nottingham Forest team news ahead of Arsenal clash
Postecoglou inherits a relatively injury-free squad, although he does have a few issues to contend with heading to N5.
This is most notable in the full-back areas, with Oleksandr Zinchenko ineligible to play against his parent club and Ola Aina a doubt.
Aina is facing a late fitness test to determine his availability, after the Nigerian suffered an issue with his national team over the break.
If he’s unavailable, then 22-year-old new signing Nicolo Savona could potentially be in line to make his debut.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Dominguez will miss the visit to the Emirates with a ‘serious meniscus injury’.
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