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Arsenal kick-off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign at Saturday lunchtime as they take on Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. The Gunners embarked on a majestic 2022/23 season which almost culminated in the Premier League title, but a stuttering end to the campaign meant they fell short of eventual treble-winners Man City. Refusing to rest on their laurels, however, Arsenal have been big spenders in the summer transfer window, and optimism has been renewed regarding a title charge after they beat City on penalties in last week’s Community Shield. Mikel Arteta will have to deal with increased expectations, but the Spaniard certainly has the squad at his disposal to test the Cityzens once more. The Gunners have a great chance to get their campaign up and running with an emphatic victory against the side which boasted the worst away record in the Premier League last season. Arteta will likely be without Oleksandr Zinchenko for the season opener with the Ukrainian yet to fully recover from the calf injury that ended his 2022/23 campaign. Gabriel Jesus is also out with a knee injury, and Kai Havertz will likely keep his place in the team. Jurrien Timber deserves to continue at left-back in Zinchenko’s absence, and we could see last Sunday’s hero, Leandro Trossard, come in for Gabriel Martinelli down the left.
Arsenal could name the same team that began the Community Shield win, with record signing Declan Rice set to play his first league game for the club. Summer signings Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber should likewise feature but forward Gabriel Jesus is ruled out as he recovers from minor knee surgery. Nottingham Forest may hand a debut to former Gunners goalkeeper Matt Turner. Last season’s top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi is back in training but is struggling to recover from an ankle injury. Anthony Elanga could make his first Forest appearance after moving from Manchester United for £15m this summer. Arsenal are unbeaten in 12 home games against Nottingham Forest in all competitions, winning eight and drawing four, including two 5-0 victories at the Emirates.
Forest beat Arsenal 1-0 at home last season to seal Premier League survival and are seeking consecutive wins over the Gunners for the first time since September 1978 under Brian Clough.
Forest’s last away victory against Arsenal was a 3-1 top-flight triumph at Highbury in March 1989.
Arsenal spent 248 days on top of the Premier League last season, a record for a team that failed to lift the title. The north London club earned 26 Premier League victories in 2022-23, equalling the club record for a season, set in 2001-02 and matched in 2003-04. The Gunners have lost their opening Premier League game in four of the last six seasons when starting the season at home, winning the other two. Mikel Arteta’s side kept just four top-flight clean sheets at home last season, although one came in the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest in October. Gabriel Martinelli has scored three times in his two home games against Forest in all competitions.
