'It was good to see the impact of the substitutes'published at 18:25 23 November
18:25 23 November
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I think we started really well. The sense I was getting in the last 48 hours after the international break, the boys coming together and were all at it.
"It was good to see the impact of the substitutes [Thomas Partey - goal; Ethan Nwaneri - goal; Raheem Sterling - assist]. Everyone has to feel important. It was a good afternoon."
On Martin Odegaard: "It's not a coincidence. The team flows in a different way when he is playing."
On Ethan Nwaneri: "He is the second youngest [Premier League goalscorer] in our history. That's a story in itself. He's brave. You see the reaction of fans and they were singing 'he's one of our own'. I think we have to put brick by brick and make sure the cement doesn't get dry. Hopefully we can build a beautiful thing with him."
Sutton's predictions: Arsenal v Nottingham Forestpublished at 11:02 23 November
11:02 23 November
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.
For week 12 he takes on The Farm singer and Liverpool fan Peter Hooton.
The Farm's new single, Forever & Ever, is out now and their new album, Let The Music (Take Control), is released in May 2025.
Sutton's prediction: 2-0
Arsenal cannot keep on dropping points and I would be a little worried about them if Declan Rice is not fit enough to feature here.
But at least Martin Odegaard is coming back to full fitness after his injury, and I feel like he will be the difference.
Sometimes it is only when a player is missing that you realise how important they are to a side, and that has definitely been the case with Odegaard, because Arsenal have not been the same without him in the final third.
Odegaard is their one player who is on a different level when he is on the ball, and almost plays a different game. He has that incredible awareness and understanding that allows him to knit everything together, and Arsenal will need that against Nottingham Forest.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side will be stubborn and difficult to break down, we know that. They have already beaten Liverpool at Anfield this season, but I think Arsenal will find a way to win.
Wooton's prediction: 2-2
This is a must-win for Arsenal because they are already off the pace. Mikel Arteta went from everyone wanting him gone a few years ago, to being one of the greatest things since sliced bread, but now the pressure is back on him. Arsenal have got to win but they are at home and they are a different proposition there so I think they will do it, as long as the crowd don't get too anxious if Forest frustrate them at first.
There is a bit of complacency when teams play Forest because they think they are a bottom-of the-table side, but they are fifth at the moment for a reason. They have surprised a lot of people this season - including us.
Which team looks the most prepared for busy schedule?published at 16:35 22 November
16:35 22 November
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It is that time of the season where domestic and European games come thick and fast, but who is best equipped to deal with those demands?
"Manchester City are probably in the worst position but it depends who they can get back fit," said former Premier League goalkeeper David James on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"They have already had academy players starting Premier League and Champions League games in the past month.
"City are stretched and will be on the edge if they are bringing in freshly recovered players back in for so many games.
"Liverpool can afford to rest players because of their position in the Champions League and Mikel Arteta seems to be picking the same fit players to be playing all the games so far this season.
"He does start to rotate further into the competitions, and that works for them for now, but that is also when they will start to pick up injuries later on in the season.
"So Liverpool are probably in the best position as things stand."
Arteta to hit Gunners milestonepublished at 15:40 22 November
15:40 22 November
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is set to take his 250th game in charge when the Gunners welcome Nottingham Forest to the Emirates on Saturday.
Appointed in December 2019, Arteta is the 10th Arsenal manager to oversee 250 matches, but he has a higher win rate than any other boss after this many games - including Arsene Wenger and George Graham.
He has lost 60 matches, with 44 of those coming in the Premier League.
Arteta has picked 69 different players since his first game in charge against Bournemouth and Bukayo Saka remains his star-boy as his most used and highest goalscorer.
Arteta on White needing surgery, 250 games in charge and 'ambition'published at 14:25 22 November
14:25 22 November
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at EmMirates Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Defender Ben White will miss "months" because of an ongoing knee injury that will require surgery. Arteta said Arsenal "made the decision to protect the player" and a timescale for his return is unknown.
In better news, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka returned to partial training today, while Leandro Trossard also trained and "seems to be OK". Riccardo Calafiori is available for Saturday's game.
However, Takehiro Tomiyasu is "going to be out for a little while" and Arteta warned "we will have to be patient" with him. Kieran Tierney is also not quite ready but has "had a couple of sessions with the team."
More from Arteta on Tomiyasu: "He’s gonna be away now for a few weeks to continue with his treatment and change his environment a bit. Physiologically it has been really tough for him. He’s a guy that will work 24 hours to be fit and he feels terrible being out."
Arteta reflected on reaching 250 games in charge at Emirates Stadium: "On what will be his 250th game in charge: "I am extremely grateful and happy. I have enjoyed every minute because I love the people I work with every day. I know how lucky I am to be here every day. It is about winning and we want to win more and trophies, so it is a journey."
In response to whether he could do another 250, Arteta added: "If it is about energy, then for sure!"
He added: "The energy from the players in the last 48 hours has been unbelievable" and said he hopes that will be carried through to Saturday's home game.
He said Arsenal should have won more games before the break but it is now about improving on weaknesses.
On meeting owners the Kroenke family over the break: "It’s always really positive to spend time together. It’s a joy to spend time with them. They have so much experience in the sport. You feel the ambition with how close they live every day with us."
Should Arsenal have kept Smith Rowe?published at 10:41 21 November
10:41 21 November
Laura Kirk-Francis Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
The word ‘creativity’ has cropped up frequently when assessing Arsenal this season, or rather, the lack of it. Arsenal, who currently sit fourth, nine points behind Liverpool, have certainly been lacking in creativity. Losing key playmaker Martin Odegaard for eight weeks has been part of the problem, but the rest of Arsenal’s attack has also looked blunt and inconsistent.
As fans try and diagnose what is going wrong, attention has turned to what could have been. Enter Emile Smith Rowe, who after leaving Arsenal in the summer, is making his mark in a Fulham side flying high in seventh, just one point behind Arsenal. Smith Rowe has five goal contributions for Fulham in 11 games, as well as three Player of the Match awards. If his aim was to show Arsenal what they’re missing, it’s certainly working.
But it is too simplistic to argue that Arsenal should not have let him go. Nobody could have foreseen that Arsenal would be without Odegaard for such a long time, nor that goals from the rest of the Gunners' attack would dry up so dramatically. Had Odegaard not suffered his injury, there simply wouldn’t be a debate about Smith Rowe.
Last season, Arsenal broke a multitude of goal-scoring records, including becoming the first side in English league history to win three successive away games by five or more goals. Where was Smith Rowe in all this? Largely sat on the bench. When Arsenal are at their best, which admittedly they haven’t been this season, Smith Rowe is not a part of it.
Smith Rowe has always made it clear that his goal was more playing time. He wanted to play, and Arsenal wanted to go to the next level. Like going through a mutual break-up of a romantic relationship, both sides can be content that while the love is still there, it was simply time to wish each other well, and walk away.
'Shrugged shoulders' - Arsenal fans on Guardiola's new dealpublished at 08:52 21 November
08:52 21 November
Oli Price-Bates Fan writer
Image source, PA Media
Pep Guardiola extending his stay at Manchester City led to a shrugged-shoulder reaction from myself and many Arsenal fans.
There is still the underlying expectation (perhaps more hope) that City will be punished for their alleged wrongdoings and subsequently heavily penalised.
I am sure Guardiola has some sort of break clause if that were to happen, so for me, the future of Guardiola and Manchester City is more dependent on the outcome of the charges against them.
I wonder if this contract extension was announced now to provide a deflated City side an early-season boost rather than any real longer-term commitment.
In terms of how it affects Arsenal this season, I think we have got our own issues to sort out rather than spending too much time thinking about other clubs' affairs. And right now, it is Liverpool that Mikel Arteta needs to catch.
Arsenal must ensure they are there to capitalise if Manchester City are not at their 90+ point best for whatever reason, otherwise they will have only themselves to blame.
Gossip: Jorginho a target for Besiktas published at 08:46 21 November
08:46 21 November
Besiktas are hoping to sign Italy midfielder Jorginho, 32, on a free when his contract with Arsenal expires in the summer. (Sabah - in Turkish), external
Can returning Odegaard kickstart Gunners?published at 17:17 20 November
17:17 20 November
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
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Arsenal go into the fixture with Nottingham Forest looking for their first win in the Premier League for five matches.
The Gunners were improved in the match against Chelsea when captain Martin Odegaard returned after two months out, only for Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice to limp off with injuries.
Mikel Arteta will hope that Rice and Saka are fit enough to play against Forest who have been the surprise team in the Premier League this season.
Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu have also been missing in recent weeks but they are nearing a return.
Arsenal have had a tough fixture list to begin this season but their performances have been of concern.
They have struggled to create freely and they have looked increasingly functional.
Arteta's side did not score in the defeats to Newcastle and Inter Milan but any side would miss a player of Odegaard's quality.
It was his pass that opened up the Chelsea defence for Gabriel Martinelli to score.
Arsenal are nine points from the top of the table but Arteta will hope that a win against Forest can put them back in the mix of teams hoping to challenge for the title.
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest: Did you know?published at 10:27 20 November
10:27 20 November
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No sides have scored more Premier League goals from set-piece situations (excluding penalties) this season than Arsenal or Nottingham Forest (five goals - level with Aston Villa).
However, 33% of the Gunners' goals conceded have come from set-pieces (four out of 12), with no team in the division shipping a higher such ratio this term.
Raheem Sterling has scored four goals in his four Premier League appearances against Forest. The forward's average of a goal every 68 minutes against the Reds is the best of any opponent he has faced more than once. However, Sterling is yet to score or assist a goal for Arsenal after four league appearances.
Image source, Getty Images
