Nottinghamshire

Alex Howell
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou was only named Nottingham Forest boss late on Tuesday, so the time on the training pitch will have been limited with his new squad.

Forest also have a number of players away on international duty, which would have lessened the tactical work that Postecoglou was able to do.

Even so, there were some noticeable changes to the side in the defeat to Arsenal. Under former manager Nuno Espirito Santo, the Reds became known for their organised defence and ability to counter-attack.

In the early part of the match, Forest did attempt to pressure the Gunners higher up the pitch but were forced back by the excellent Arsenal side.

Supporters will not have been too hopeful heading to north London with Forest winning only two of their past 16 matches against Arsenal, and both of those came at home.

Postecoglou again will not have much time to implement the expansive style he is known for, with a Carabao Cup game against Swansea City on Wednesday.

Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's defeat to Arsenal: "Disappointed with the outcome. It's not nice losing any game. They're a very good side and pretty formidable at home. But even in that context, it's disappointing.

"The players gave everything they could, they had the right endeavour but the second goal pushed it away from us.

"It's been a really disruptive week for the players, I've tried to keep things really simple this week, we've only had one training session together but hopefully now we can start bedding in some of the principles we need to."

On only making one change from last game under Nuno Espirito Santo: "I just didn't think it was the time to disrupt them even further. They at least had the core of the team together so there is some cohesion there and some understanding rather than just throwing guys even.

"But I thought the guys who came on showed a little bit of brightness and promise, which is great for us. We've got plenty of games coming and they'll all get an opportunity.

"You only have to look at how we performed last year, they're very disappointed obviously but I've got to understand that they're human beings and a week ago their world was very different to what it is now."

On the squad: "I'm really happy with the squad. A lot of players haven't had an opportunity yet or were signed late in the window but that will be rectified over the next few weeks and once we've had some game time, I'm more than happy with this squad.

"Elliot Anderson is an outstanding footballer, watching him at close quarters today was brilliant. There are others, I was really impressed with Dan Ndoye today. Neco Williams was outstanding today.

"There is a strong mindset within the senior core of the group. I'm still as excited as the day I signed, I knew today would be tough but you have to take your medicine and move on."

On looking refreshed: "Whenever a manager looks tanned and well rested, it means he is out of a job so I'd rather not be looking so well and pale."

Speaking to TNT Sports about the job ahead of him, he added: "It hasn't been an ideal prep for the players and you have to take that into account. All you can ask for is effort and unfortunately, against a very good opponent, today was a bridge too far.

"This is a group of players who showed last year how hard they fight for each other. Disappointment today but there's only one way to respond.

"They're all big jobs. I haven't taken over an easy one yet but that's why I'm here. I love the challenge and we'll get to where we want to."

On Murillo's injury: "Looks like just a knock, so hopefully with some rest he'll be OK."

Did you know?

• Nottingham Forest are winless in their past three Premier League games (D1 L2), last enduring a longer winless run in the competition in April 2024 (run of four). Meanwhile, they have failed to score in successive Premier League matches for the first time since that April 2024 streak.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

It's a full debut for Eberechi Eze but there is no place for Declan Rice in Arsenal's starting line-up, with the midfielder settling for a place on the bench.

William Saliba is not in the matchday squad as he's still recovering from injury.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Eze, Madueke, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Hincapie, White, Martinelli, Trossard, Nwaneri, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman

Douglas Luiz, a summer signing from Juventus, is on the bench for Forest as the Brazilian looks for his first minutes in a Forest shirt.

Nottingham Forest starting XI: Sels, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Morato, Anderson, Sangare, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Hudson-Odoi, Wood

Subs: Victor, McAtee, Hutchinson, Boly, Luiz, Kalimuendo, Bakwa, Savona, Yates

There are eight games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Brighton

• Crystal Palace v Sunderland

• Everton v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Leeds United

• Newcastle v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Tottenham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Brentford v Chelsea (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v Wolves", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou takes charge of his first game as Nottingham Forest head coach, returning to north London to face Arsenal. BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before Saturday's match.

Arsenal paid out approximately £250m on transfers this summer, taking their overall spending under Mikel Arteta to nearly £930m. When a handful of minor sales are accounted for, their net spend in the most recent window was £240m, the highest figure in the top flight, with Liverpool (£222m) the only other club to break the £200m mark.

Those numbers will bring even more scrutiny and pressure on the Gunners, who have not won the league since 2004 and have gone five years since lifting the FA Cup, their only major trophy under Arteta.

Defeat at Anfield last time out was certainly not a terminal blow to their title ambitions, but registering just a single shot on target highlighted a familiar failing. Arteta's side scored 69 Premier League goals last term, 22 fewer than in 2023-24, with the number of shots also falling by 111. That drop-off in attacking threat ultimately prevented them from running eventual champions Liverpool close.

It is well documented how crucial set-pieces are to Arsenal, and four of the Gunners' six goals this term have come in that manner. But aside from restarts, the Londoners have struggled to break down opponents, with their expected goals figure from open play just 1.54, the second lowest in the league.

Three games – including tricky away trips to Manchester United and Liverpool – obviously represents a small sample size. Arteta will still be confident that when new arrivals - such as Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres - are fully up to speed, Arsenal's attack will click.

Postecoglou's swift return

Nottingham Forest also have a host of summer signings to integrate, having spent approximately £190m on 13 new players, but all eyes on Saturday will be on the man in the visitors' dugout. Postecoglou was named as Forest head coach on Tuesday, just 95 days after being sacked by Spurs.

The Australian didn't win a north London derby as Tottenham boss but guiding Forest to their first victory on Arsenal turf since 1989 would be the perfect way to win over any sceptical supporters who doubt the wisdom of dismissing Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Portuguese left the City Ground following a deteriorating relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis and tension with Edu, the club's recently appointed global head of football. But Nuno's legacy mean he is unlikely to be out of work long – he took Forest into Europe for the first time in 30 years and leaves with the highest Premier League win percentage of any manager in the club's history.

I am not expecting an extreme change from Nottingham Forest in Ange Postecoglou's first game in charge.

Sure, he will tweak things, and he has got his principles where he likes to play attacking football, but I can't imagine him going in with a high defensive line in his first game, especially against Arsenal.

A return to north London is pretty much as tough a start as he could get, even though Arsenal have a few injuries with Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Kai Havertz ruled out.

There is so much talent in the Arsenal squad now that they are still so dangerous - Noni Madueke was excellent for England against Serbia, and he will be full of confidence after that display.

This might be another game where Arsenal have to grind a result out, but they will find a way of winning it.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

In the second part of what life under Ange Postecoglou might be like, Nick Mashiter considers how the former Tottenham manager goes about his business. You can read part one lower down this page.

The players must be ready for Ange-ball immediately, there will be no half measures, no steady introduction. He knows the way he wants to play - whether it was criticised at Tottenham or not - and they will be asked to do that from day one.

The counter-attacking game which served Forest so well under Nuno will remain to a point - Postecoglou will utilise it - pressing and possession will be quickly brought in.

The clarity will be there and he will demand commitment but he is good at selling his vision, looking for players to follow him.

He will invariably pick his team the day before a game but sometimes may not name it until matchday, although with 10 v 10 games in training - the likely starting line up against others - players will know the expected team.

Post match he keeps many thoughts to himself, opting to reflect on the result and performance rather than any instant reactions, a ploy many managers use.

Come Monday morning there will be a meeting to debrief the game with a video of around 10 minutes.

It will review the structure, how players have reacted to losing the ball, penetration, attacking the box. This will be reinforced through the season.

Early on it will most likely be spent discussing what he wants to see and how the squad have executed it.

His first review will come after Saturday's game at the Emirates as the Postecoglou era begins.

Listen to Postecoglou speak to BBC Radio Nottingham