Arsenal will open their 2023/24 Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on 12 August 2023.
The London club will hope to kick off proceedings on a strong note as they aim to stage a challenge for the Premier League title again.
The Gunners will go into the game against the Tricky Trees on the back of a big and vengeful Community Shield victory over Manchester City at the Wembley.
It will be a double decker victory for Mikel Arteta should he complete a win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates.
In an attempt to battle relegation last season, Nottingham Forest officially ended Arsenal 2022/23 Premier League title hopes at City Ground, thumping the London side 1-0.
Mikel Arteta will hope to harvest a pound of flesh by maintaining Arsenal’s dominant trail against the Tricky Trees as they host the Steve Cooper-led team at Emirate Stadium.
Match Preview
Having tone down their activities in the transfer market unlike last season when they added 25 new players to the squad, Nottingham Forest will hope to replicate last season’s shock win over the Gunners but such feat at Emirates will be a big shocker.
The Tricky Trees did not have an overly impressive preseason leading to this anticipated clash against the 2022/23 Premier League runners-up.
They have scored only three goals in seven preseason friendlies, recording successive defeats against Championships side Leeds United, Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven, and French Ligue 1 side, Rennes.
Last season, Nottingham Forest faced relegation woes due to a poor away form which saw them pick up only 8 points from all 19 away fixtures.
It has been over three decades since they defeated Arsenal at Emirates, winning 3-1 in 1988/89 season.
Arsenal had a fairly impressive preseason which featured wins over MLS All Stars, Barcelona, and Monaco and a defeat against Manchester United. They wrapped up their preseason with the Community Shield win over Manchester City and will be heading into the game with enough confidence to grab a win. They have faced the Tricky Trees 104 times, winning 52, drawing 22, and losing 29.
Team News
Gabriel Jesus is among the leading names in Arsenal that will miss the game as he is nursing a recent knee injury.
William Saliba, who missed Arsenal preseason due to his back injury picked up last season, may not also feature for the team, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is battling with a calf injury.
Mohamed Elneny is still out of the squad since last season and will not feature for the Gunners.
Leading the list of Arsenal big-names available for the clash are Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah Leandro Trossard, alongside new signings Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Aaron Ramsdale
Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi is among the big names ruled out of Nottingham Forest lineup for the game due to an injury.
Brennan Johnson is also expected to be available for the clash after battling a spell on the sidelines. Ironically, Nottingham Forest new signing from Arsenal will likely make his debut for the Tricky Trees, facing his former team.
Arsenal probable lineup: Ramsdale; White, Tomber, Kiwior, Gabriel, Gabrl; Odegaard, Rice, Partey; Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.
Nottingham Forest probable lineup: Turner; Worrall, McKenna, Boly; Aurier, Danilo, Yates, Aina, Mangala; Johnson Gibbs-White.
Prediction
Arsenal are the better side going into the game and will secure a 3-0 won over the Tricky Trees.
