Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest return to the City Ground on Wednesday night as they take on fading title hopefuls Arsenal in the Premier League.

The Gunners had their lengthy unbeaten run snapped by West Ham United at the weekend, and their deficit to league leaders Liverpool is now 11 points after the Reds claimed their first win away at Manchester City in a decade on Sunday.

Arsenal's title chances have taken a huge hit, but Mikel Arteta supplied a defiant stance in his pre-match press conference. His team won't be giving up on the season anytime soon, but a tough test awaits.

Nottingham Forest still sit in third despite losing back-to-back games, but the top half of the table currently looks mightily congested. Fulham are just eight points back from Nuno Espirito Santo's side in tenth.

Forest have been excellent at home this term, losing just twice and conceding ten goals in 12 games. They embarrassed Brighton on their most recent home outing at the start of February and can close the gap on the Gunners to three points with a win in midweek.

Here is 90min's guide to Wednesday's Premier League clash.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal head-to-head record (last five games)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal on TV - UK and US

Nottingham Forest team news

Ryan Yates should come back into the Forest starting XI / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Nottingham Forest continue to enjoy a clean bill of health, with midfielders Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo returning to action over the past month.

Forest's only absentee is back-up goalkeeper Carlos Miguel. Taiwo Awoniyi was back on the bench at the weekend and is expected to wear a protective mask if he takes to the field against the Gunners.

Ryan Yates should return to Nuno's midfield, partnering the impressive Elliot Anderson.

Nottingham Forest predicted lineup vs Arsenal

Forest predicted lineup vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

Arsenal team news

Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended for Wednesday's game / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Ethan Nwaneri limped off in the second half of Arsenal's crushing defeat at the weekend, although Arteta provided a reassuring update post-match and the teenager is expected to be fit for Wednesday's game.

Ben White made his first appearance since mid-November against the Hammers, but the right-back enjoyed only a brief cameo. He's unlikely to be thrust into the starting XI at the City Ground.

Raheem Sterling has an impressive scoring record against Forest and could return to Arteta's team, with Mikel Merino dropping into midfield and Leandro Trossard functioning as a false nine against the hosts' imposing backline.

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out injured. Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Forest (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal score prediction

Arsenal's issues against physical defensive units who sit in an aggressive low block resurfaced again at the weekend, and they're set to face an even sturdier iteration of their Kryptonite on Wednesday night.

Forest defended woefully for 45 minutes at Newcastle, but they're a different beast on home soil. The City Ground has proven to be an incredibly tough place to go and win for visiting teams this season, and Arsenal, in their current state, aren't built for success in this sort of environment.

The Gunners' stability defensively means the hosts aren't going to run riot, but they'll merely require a moment against Arteta's side to claim victory.