The Premier League is back, and the weekend kicks off with a fascinating encounter at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal host Nottingham Forest. All eyes will be on Nottingham Forest's new manager, Ange Postecoglou, as he takes charge of his first match. Postecoglou replaced Nuno Espirito Santo earlier in the week, making this a whirlwind start to his tenure.
Postecoglou faces a daunting task against an Arsenal side eager to bounce back from a recent defeat. He acknowledged the strength of the Gunners, stating that they have "strengthened over the summer" and are a formidable opponent. Despite the challenge, Postecoglou wants his team to play without fear and challenge Arsenal at their own stadium. He emphasized the need to take on the best to reach their desired level.
Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta, will be aiming to get their Premier League campaign back on track after a loss to Liverpool before the international break. Arteta believes that his team has the ability to "click again" after a defeat, and he will be looking for a strong performance against Forest.
Nottingham Forest has struggled against Arsenal in recent years. They have not won at the Emirates Stadium since 1989. In their last six home games against Forest, Arsenal has a combined score of 19-2.
Postecoglou's first team selection is complicated by several absences. Ola Aina is doubtful due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Nigeria, and Oleksandr Zinchenko is ineligible to play against his parent club, Arsenal. Nicolás Domínguez is also unavailable due to injury. However, key players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Dan Ndoye, and Chris Wood are fit and in good form after scoring for their countries during the international break. Ibrahim Sangaré and Elliot Anderson are expected to form the midfield partnership.
Arsenal also has injury concerns. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are both out with knee injuries. However, Christian Norgaard and Ben White have returned to training and could feature in the match.
Beyond the Arsenal vs. Nottingham Forest match, there are several other Premier League games to look forward to this weekend. Bournemouth will host Brighton, Crystal Palace will face Sunderland, and Everton will take on Aston Villa. Newcastle will play against Wolves, and West Ham will face Tottenham. On Sunday, Brentford will host Chelsea, and Burnley will play Liverpool. The weekend will conclude with a Manchester derby between Manchester City and Manchester United.
The Premier League season is already shaping up to be an exciting one, with several teams vying for the top spots. As the season progresses, fans can expect plenty of drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments.
