However, their stay in the top-flight remains uncertain this season.
Under the new leadership of Nuno Espirito Santo, Nottingham Forest has seen a flurry of high-scoring matches, including a recent showdown with Brentford that saw five goals. Despite a spirited effort against Blackpool in the FA Cup, they fell short against Brentford, with controversy surrounding a disputed free kick goal.
Currently positioned 16th in the league, Nottingham Forest faces uncertainty after a series of mixed results. Their hopes were dashed further by a goalless draw against Bristol City, forcing a replay in the FA Cup.
On the other side, Arsenal seems to have found their stride again after a dominant 5-0 win against Crystal Palace. Spearheaded by Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli, they put an end to their goal drought and now sit third in the league standings.
However, Arsenal has struggled away from home lately, failing to secure a win in their last three Premier League away games. Memories of their previous defeat at the City Ground serve as a reminder of the challenge ahead, although they managed to secure a win against Nottingham Forest earlier in the current season.
With both teams aiming for redemption and crucial points, the upcoming match promises to be an intense battle on Nottingham Forest's turf.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
All six players from Nottingham Forest who are representing their respective countries in the Africa Cup of Nations will continue their journey into the knockout stages, which means Ola Aina, Cheikhou Kouyate, Willy Boly, Serge Aurier, Ibrahim Sangare, and Moussa Niakhate will be absent for the match against Arsenal.Adding to Forest's absentees, left-back Nuno Tavares, who has been regaining form under Santo, won't be able to play against his parent club. Additionally, Felipe, Taiwo Awoniyi, Anthony Elanga, and Divock Origi all missed out on Friday's FA Cup tie due to various injuries.
Among them, Origi hasn't resumed training yet. Meanwhile, Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to return to the starting lineup after a brief appearance in the second half against Ashton Gate.
For Arsenal, Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu are still engaged in international duty, while Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira remain sidelined due to injury.
Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, Declan Rice limped off the field during the win over Palace due to a thigh issue. Although Arteta downplayed it as fatigue, Rice's absence from recent training sessions raises concerns about his availability for Tuesday's match.
Furthermore, Gabriel Magalhaes is recovering from an ankle injury sustained in the derby, while Thomas Partey, despite returning to full training, is not yet ready for competitive action after being omitted from Ghana's squad for the AFCON due to a thigh injury.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:Turner; Montiel, Omobamidele, Murillo, Toffolo; Mangala, Yates; Gibbs-White, Danilo, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
EXPERT PREDICTION
Nottingham Forest 1-3 Arsenal
On the flip side, Forest's numerous absences may have weakened their side, as evident in their recent match against Bristol City. This could potentially make them vulnerable against an Arsenal squad that seems revitalized, with their attacking prowess restored. As a result, Arsenal might have the upper hand in the upcoming match and could even temporarily claim the second spot in the standings.
