Nottingham Forest

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The story of this Premier League season is not new managers, but injuries.

Manchester City have famously struggled without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri while Liverpool are the only side to keep plugging away at the top of the table, despite the loss of Alisson and now Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Arsenal's form stuttered in recent weeks without Martin Odegaard - their captain as key to the Gunners' title ambitions as Mohamed Salah is to Liverpool's. And it was the former who made Nottingham Forest pay at the weekend.

The Reds, of course, were missing both Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson - the creative drive and both a significant part of Forest's success this season. Nuno Espirito Santo's side have coped with the loss of both Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare this campaign, but the midfield is clearly a different proposition with all four missing.

There is no shame in losing to Arsenal, but the timing is clearly unfortunate - last month was perhaps a better time to face them.

More pertinent, though, is the double-whammy of losing our two most creative players while conceding three goals for the second game in a row.

This run of fixtures was always going to test us and you cannot read too much into one result or performance. But with two challenging games away in Manchester to come, plus Aston Villa and Tottenham at home, it will be interesting to see the team's response.

Nuno's squad is big and talented enough not to rely on the same starting XI every week, but as the season goes on there will be more and more demands.

The club's fitness and conditioning team have proved their worth so far - particularly given our difficulties just a few years ago. We just have to hope that injured players are quick to return and the Reds can maintain some momentum.

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, which the Gunners won 3-0.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Matt: Odegaard makes the whole team tick - beautiful footballer to watch. And for the first time, we were watching seven or eight subs warming up most of whom could have started.

Guy: Arsenal played well and controlled the match. Having Timber available to cover White was good and hopefully that back four can stay fit. Having Saka and Odegaard back is important. I think the international break came at the right time for us to get players back and fit.

Ebeiyamba: It was a dominating performance by the Gunners. I can only hope they keep up the tempo. The league title is still within their reach.

Darren: Odegaard completely changes the way we play! What a player, involved in everything, a great leader and unlucky not to get a goal - not to mention that Saka is twice the player with him in the team. They love each other. Nwaneri will be one of the best players ever to wear an Arsenal shirt also!

Forest fans

Doug: Not our best performance, but in fairness Arsenal played a lot better than us. Nuno needs to get the lads to dig deep for our next game as we definitely don't want to lose three on the bounce. But, I do think we can turn it around.

Jim: Toothless performance but against a strong Arsenal team with Odegaard a class above the best of our midfield. We'll bounce back though.

John: We got what we deserved - nothing. We missed Wood, Gibbs-White and Anderson. No bite or creativity in midfield and you could see the goals coming with the gaps. Arsenal are too big and strong in the air so no chance with high balls, defending or attacking - and we did precious little of the latter. Hope our top players are back next week.

David: Awful display. Continue like this and we will looking over our shoulders by Christmas. Offered nothing, deserved nothing. Do not understand why we just did not have a go. Blown away by too good Arsenal.

Nottingham Forest are in advanced discussions with full-back Ola Aina over a new contract. The 28-year-old Nigeria international's current deal runs out in the summer, meaning he will be free to negotiate with overseas clubs from January. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

• Manchester City 0-4 Tottenham

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Nottingham Forest suffered their first away defeat in eight Premier League games (W5 D2), leaving Liverpool as the only side still unbeaten on the road this term.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC MOTD: "They played well and we didn't play so well. Arsenal were the better team.

"Second half we became more pressing but they killed us with the second and third goals. There's not much to say. We have to improve because we did a lot of bad things - especially with the defending. Losing is always very painful. We came up short."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Arsenal's performance, external

What did you make of Nottingham Forest's display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Leicester v Chelsea - 12:30

• Bournemouth v Brighton

• Arsenal v Nottingham Forest (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

• Everton v Brentford

• Fulham v Wolves

• Man City v Tottenham - 17:30 (listen on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-offs 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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.

Hooton’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.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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In the latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up and Show More Football podcast, reporter Colin Fray explains how the November international break could actually have a negative effect on Nuno Espirito Santo's side, before their trip to Arsenal on Saturday.

The early-season form of centre-back Murillo was rewarded with a first senior call-up for Brazil, while in-form forward Chris Wood continued his fine exploits for New Zealand, scoring five times across two matches for the Kiwis.

"It is as difficult for Forest as it is for any other side," said Fray. "We have been focused on Murillo, but Arsenal have Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli as part of that same Brazil squad. They are in exactly the same situation.

"It's nothing new for Chris Wood to effectively travel the circumference of the globe to go and play for New Zealand. I suppose then you say, fair play to Chris Wood.

"What you know is if Chris Wood's body doesn't feel right, he won't go and do it. He is in such good form at the moment but he just wants play football."

In Forest's first game after the October international break, Nuno's team won 1-0 at Anfield to inflict a first defeat on new Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

"Forest have got to hope that they come back in similar fashion as before," added Fray. "The first game back after the previous international break was at Liverpool, of course.

"They will need a similar performance as that against Arsenal."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds now

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Earlier, we asked you who scored Nottingham Forest's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season.

The answer is Chris Wood, who netted in the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on 17 August.

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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo has become one of the most recognisable faces in the Premier League over the past decade, with the Portuguese boss also taking charge of Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur in the past.

As the Premier League resumes this weekend, Nuno has guided Forest to fifth in the early table and on the latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up and Show More Football podcast, journalist Henry Winter revealed how the 50-year-old differs from an orthodox top-flight manager.

"One of the most important things he has done is that he has worked with [owner, Evangelos] Marinakis," said Winter. "I don't think [predecessor, Steve] Cooper necessarily had that relationship. Nuno is a very empathetic individual and very emotionally intelligent. He is not your average Premier League manager. He is no Harry Redknapp.

"He grew up on an island in the gulf of Guinea. I remember talking to him once about his background and he says it winds up his wife because when they go on holiday together, he wants to feel the sand on his feet and he wants to feel the salt on his skin. He describes it in poetic, beautiful terms.

"When he goes on holiday, if he has been on the beach or in the sea, he won't have a shower. He loves feeling the sand between his toes and the salt on his skin. This sounds a bit like Desert Island Discs! He was telling me about how he just feels the ocean and having grown up on the island, he was trying to explain it.

"He said there were - I think boa constrictors - and I am pretty sure he wasn't winding me up, but he said one of the first things they got taught as kids was how to kill a boa constrictor.

"The point I am making is there is a lot of background but he did experience racist abuse and then made it as a goalkeeper and a manager. [He has] a very empathetic, soulful side - and soulful is not something you often see in Premier League dugouts."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Who scored Nottingham Forest's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

Nottingham Forest and Everton are keeping tabs on £17m-rated Brazil striker Yuri Alberto, 23, of Corinthians. (TBR), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

The latest episode of BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast has landed.

Nuno Espirito Santo speaks about the jet lag of his players, renowned journalist Henry Winter reveals his best anecdote about the Nottingham Forest boss while Colin Fray and David Jackson preview an enticing trip to Arsenal on Saturday.

Listen to the full episode now on BBC Sounds

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news, Ramon Sosa "is still to arrive" after being on international duty with Paraguay, long-term absentees Danilo and Sangare "definitely can't be involved" and he also revealed "there's some situations to manage and decide".

• On facing Arsenal, he said: "We always believe we can compete. We're going to face a good, tough team. We're going to compete doing the things we want, but it's going to be a tough game."

• On Forest's set-piece improvement he said: "The first step was the awareness of the players to understand we had to improve that aspect. Their involvement was massive because they really put some effort on it, a lot of time spent doing it on the training ground and staying focused. The credit is for them."

• Forest are yet to lose away from home this season and on the club's away form he said: "The players realise there's no game that we can change our approach, home and away has to be the same. It's harder because we don't have the City Ground behind us but we will have a lot of fans at the Emirates to support us."

• He said Chris Wood is "amazing" after the striker continued his good form with five goals over the international break for his country. "I'm delighted for him that he's breaking all the records in New Zealand," said Nuno.

• Murillo was part of the Brazilian national side but didn't feature. Nuno believes patience is key for the 22-year-old, saying: "We have to be proud of our players that are being involved in their national team squad, to be involved for Brazil shows the quality he has and he has to be patient and wait for his chance but I'm delighted he was involved."

• He was asked if he's surprised with the start to the season his side have had, with the club sitting fifth in the table and said: "What I expect and what the players give to us is total commitment to do things right. From the outside it can be surprising but for us? No. We work every day with them, we know the quality and talent they have, we demand a lot from them but we have to stay humble and realise it's a very long and tough season."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nottingham Forest will demand in excess of £70m for Brazilian defender Murillo, who is wanted by Liverpool. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Including stoppage time, Nottingham Forest have been behind for just 102 minutes and 34 seconds in the Premier League this season, less time than any other side.

Meanwhile, Chris Wood has scored 53.3% of the Reds' league goals so far (eight out of 15). Only Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (54.5%) has netted a higher share in 2024-25.