Ange Postecoglou explains how he has prepared Nottingham Forest squad to face Arsenal | OneFootball

The manager has had just a few days to prepare for one of the toughest tests of the season

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Ange Postecoglou is confident Nottingham Forest will be "absolutely ready" to take on Arsenal in his first game in charge.

Nuno led Forest into the Europa League but went public last month in stating that his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had become increasingly strained.

That ultimately led to Nuno losing his job and the Forest players returning from international duty to a new manager.

Asked about his conversations with players and staff that had been left shocked by Nuno's departure, Postecoglou said at his first press conference: "You've got to let people process it.

The responsibility for me and the players is to make sure we are absolutely ready for a big game

Ange Postecoglou

"I just kind of let the players be and the staff because I'm sure Nuno had close relationships with all of them. You've got to let people process that. I know in the football world we tend to think that it's that kind of business, you just move on.

"But they are human beings and I thought it was really important to let them in their own minds deal with it the best way.

"The first conversation I had with them was, 'we've got a game Saturday boys and there's nothing more important than that'. Everything else we've got to park whatever it is we may or may not be going through.

"Because the responsibility for me and the players and everyone involved is to make sure come Saturday lunchtime that we are absolutely ready for a big game and that's been the conversation. I haven't tried to expand on that too much.

"It's what's going to be our best preparation to take on one of the Premier League's best."

Ange Postecoglou starts with four away games

Mike Egerton/PA Wire

Saturday's trip to Arsenal means Postecoglou makes a swift return to north London, having left Spurs at the end of last season.

It is a major test for the Australian against his former rivals, starting a run of four matches on the road for Forest across all competitions.

"It is what it is," Postecoglou said. "First four games are away so that's why I got a look at the stadium today, I won't see it for a while.

"That's OK. The one I do know is that every Premier League fixture is challenging, whether that's against clubs that are challenging for honours or others that fighting for other things.

"It's a great game. Mikel [Arteta] has got them off to a good start. They've strengthened over the summer for sure. They're a stronger team than they were last season so it's a great challenge for us."