Nottingham Forest host Arsenal on Wednesday in what has become an even more crucial encounter after Sunday’s 4-3 defeat to Newcastle.
Joe Hart defended Matz Sels’ display against Newcastle after the Belgian was unfairly said to be at fault for The Magpies’ first goal as well as missing the chance to save Alexander Isak’s penalty.
Sels could do no more to prevent Forest’s first-half collapse, which has added a level of discomfort ahead of Arsenal’s trip to the City Ground as the midweek fixtures could see the Reds drop out of the top four if results go against Forest.
One positive is that Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly will miss the Forest match as the Gunners are left with somewhat of a crisis at left-back, which Nuno Espirito Santo could exploit with the pace of Anthony Elanga.
On the other side, though, Arsenal are getting closer to their imperious best, with Mikel Arteta expressing his joy in having his first-choice right-back fit and ready for the trip to Forest.
Mikel Arteta hails Ben White impact ahead of Nottingham Forest clash
Callum Hudson-Odoi was impressive against Newcastle so Forest may look to work their play down the left side, which is exactly what Arteta will want to see.
Arteta has been blessed with the return of English right back, Ben White, who has been out injured since November. Making his first appearance of 2025 in Saturday’s defeat to West Ham after returning against Leicester City, Arteta spoke of his excitement about White in his pre-match press conference.
Arteta said to the Arsenal website: “He’s a player that has given us something very, very special, especially in that right unit. We haven’t played with that right unit at all this season with him, Bukayo [Saka] and Martin [Odegaard] as well – a unit that has played so much football together.
“It’s great to have him back, it’s more options and his energy, the way he is around the team and what he generates, he’s certainly been missed.”
Whilst Saka remains injured, Arteta will be hoping that White linking with Odegaard once more will help to reignite the Arsenal captain, to the detriment of the Forest squad who will be hoping to see the Norwegian continue to struggle for form.
Regardless of the impact White may have, though, Arteta continued in his press conference to hail what Forest have achieved this season, giving a special nod to his opposition manager.
Mikel Arteta hailed “incredible” Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest
Espirito Santo is in line for a new Forest deal for his remarkable season at Forest and regardless of whether Forest qualify for the Champions League, the Portuguese coach deserves plenty of credit.
Arteta echoed this sentiment, saying: “Unbelievable, what they’re [Forest] doing and what he’s [Espirito Santo] done. Not only there, but what he did at Wolves as well, it was incredible, to be fair.
“So huge pride for him, the coaching staff the players and the club as well for what they have generated after coming into the Premier League, it’s a remarkable story, so well done to them.”
Mentioning Wolves in particular should come as no surprise as Espirito Santo actually completed a League double over Arteta’s Arsenal in the 2020/21 Premier League season.
Winning 2-1 both home and away, Espirito Santo’s Wolves took six points off Arsenal which was the difference between 4th and 8th for the Gunners, who finished outside the Champions League spots.
Having won the two meetings between Arsenal and Espirito Santo’s Forest, Arteta has avenged this blip on his record but will look to truly assert his dominance over the Forest manager on Wednesday night.