Postecoglou: We will take Arsenal on | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou will mark his first game in charge of Nottingham Forest at the Emirates on Saturday and has been unequivocal in his assessment of the task ahead, describing Arsenal as “as strong as they’ve ever been”.

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The Australian, appointed earlier this week after the dismissal of Nuno Espírito Santo, has inherited a squad disrupted by injuries and short on preparation time.

His opening assignment could scarcely be more demanding: away to a side that began the season with a win at Old Trafford and a 5-0 dismantling of Leeds, only halted by a narrow defeat at Anfield before the international break.

“They’ve probably been the most consistent club,” Postecoglou said. “They haven’t finished as champions, but they’ve certainly been the most consistent over recent years. They’ve strengthened in the off-season and this is probably as strong as they’ve ever been from a playing perspective.

“They’ve got a manager in Mikel who’s been there a while now, so everything is embedded in place for them to have success.”

Forest travel to north London without Ola Aina, who sustained a hamstring injury on international duty with Nigeria and will be out for three months, and with Nicolás Domínguez also unavailable. The absence of Aina is a particular setback, with Postecoglou forced to shuffle his back line in his opening match.

For the new head coach, however, the opportunity to measure his players against a title contender is one he insists must be embraced. “It’s a great challenge but with everything I’ve said so far, if I flinch and say this is a bridge too far then it means nothing. We’ve got to go there without fear, take them on at their place and challenge the very best, because that’s where we want to be one day.”

Arsenal’s home record against Forest underlines the size of the challenge: six consecutive victories at the Emirates with 19 goals scored in the process and only two conceded. Forest haven’t won at Arsenal since 1989.

With Viktor Gyökeres, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke now added to their attack, Arteta has the depth and firepower to respond after the setback at Liverpool and the loss of Bukayo Saka to a hamstring problem of his own.