Arsenal host Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the Premier League season on Saturday. So, here is everything that you need to know including how to watch on TV.
The Gunners will once again have dreams of lifting the title this season after falling just short in 2022/23. Nottingham Forest ended Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League in May with their 1-0 win. But the Gunners were dominant in north London last October to win 5-0.
Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Reiss Nelson (2), Thomas Partey and captain Martin Odegaard put Arsenal two points clear at the top. They would spend 248 days in first before a late run of poor results let Manchester City run clear. While Forest would end the term in 16th place.
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Transfers for Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice have strengthened Arsenal for the new Premier League campaign. But boss Mikel Arteta has also said goodbye to Granit Xhaka and will hope the Swiss star’s absence is not now overly felt at home to Nottingham Forest.
Arteta also faces some selection dilemmas against Nottingham Forest for Arsenal after they beat Manchester City in the Community Shield. So, ahead of the Emirates Stadium meeting to start the term, here is everything you need to know about Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest.
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When is Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest?
The Premier League scheduled Arsenal and Nottingham Forest to start the 2023/24 season at Emirates Stadium on August 12, 2023. While TNT Sports has selected their fixture for its live Saturday TV slot. So, the Gunners and Reds will kick off at 12:30 BST to see in the term.
How to watch Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
TNT Sports will broadcast exclusive, live coverage of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest’s game on TV in the UK. It will show the fixture on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage will begin on the HD and 4k channels at 11:00 BST ahead of the match starting at 12:30 BST.
Live stream of Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
Fans can watch TNT Sports 1 on BT and Sky channels 408 and 410 in standard definition or in HD on 430, 870 and Virgin Media channel 527. Subscribers with 4K TVs can see Arteta’s and Steve Cooper’s sides on TNT Sports Ultimate via BT 433, Sky 493 or Virgin Media 531.
Arsenal team and injury news
Arsenal will host Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the Premier League season with Arteta juggling some injury concerns. Star striker Gabriel Jesus will miss the first few weeks of the campaign after undergoing knee surgery. Havertz started for the Community Shield.
Another centre-forward in Folarin Balogun also remains unavailable to Arteta as he heals up from a foot injury. But the Gunners boss welcomed Bukayo Saka back on Sunday after he sat out the Emirates Cup due to illness. The winger should now start after starting at Wembley.
Oleksandr Zinchenko also missed the Community Shield and Arsenal’s pre-season while he recovers from a calf injury. But the left-back did manage 11 minutes in the Game 4 Ukraine at Stamford Bridge last Saturday. So, he could now be in line for a potential recall this Saturday.
Further absences are also likely at Arsenal with Arteta yet to recall Nelson from a foot injury he sustained in pre-season. Mohammed Elneny is also a long-term absentee as he recovers from the surgery on his knee this January. While Jorginho is now a potential fitness concern.
Jorginho sat out the Community Shield with a slight muscle injury. But the Gunners’ playing down the severity of the Italian’s problem suggests he should, at least, make the bench this weekend. Arteta also has alternatives with Arsenal’s new record signing, Rice, and Partey.
Prediction: Arsenal (2) vs (1) Nottingham Forest
Arsenal went through their six pre-season friendlies and the Community Shield with just the one clean sheet. The Gunners failed to shut out Watford, FC Nurnberg, Manchester United, FC Barcelona, AS Monaco and Manchester City. Arteta’s team only denied the MLS All-Stars.
Nottingham Forest will take confidence in Arsenal’s inability to keep the ball out of the back of their net. But the Gunners will now enter the new Premier League season riding a wave of confidence after the Community Shield. They displayed great determination at Wembley.
Falling a goal down to Cole Palmer’s superb curling effort could have knocked the wind out of the Gunners. But Leandro Trossard forced the shoot-out in the 11th minute of stoppage time. Arsenal were faultless from the spot for a 4-1 win after Aaron Ramsdale denied Rodri.
Their increased confidence having already bounced back from losing to Manchester United by beating Barcelona should give Arsenal an edge. And even without Jesus, Arteta has more than enough weaponry to cut through whatever Nottingham Forest team that Cooper picks.