[Teams] Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: Confirmed line-ups from the City Ground

Champions Arsenal are at the City Ground needing a win over Nottingham Forest to stay in touch at the top of the table.

Manchester City moved five points clear at the top – and six ahead of third-placed Arsenal – with a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners now need a win over Forest to close the gap to three points.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made five changes from the side that beat Lille 3-0 in their opening Champions League fixture in midweek. David Raya is among those to keep their place as the Spaniard starts between the sticks once again.

Jurrien Timber scored a superb goal against Lille but he drops to the bench with Ben White recalled at right-back. William Saliba remains on the sidelines so Ezri Konsa continues alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in the middle of Arsenal’s defence.

Riccardo Calafiori is recalled at left-back meaning Myles Lewis-Skelly drops to the bench this afternoon. Declan Rice keeps his place in midfield as does Bruno Guimaraes so Martin Zubimendi has to settle for a place on the bench after recovering from a knock.

Martin Odegaard is recalled to captain Arsenal today after being rested in midweek. Mikel Merino is the man to make way. Eberechi Eze keeps his place on the left wing with Christos Tzolis still nursing an injury.

Bukayo Saka was given a breather against Lille but he’s back in the starting eleven after making a big impact off the bench in midweek. Noni Madueke drops out and is joined on the bench by Max Dowman.

Kai Havertz was also rested for the Champions League clash on Tuesday but he’s recalled up front meaning Viktor Gyokeres makes way.

Here are the confirmed line-ups for the game:

Nottingham Forest

Sels, Diomande, Williams, Murillo, Domínguez, Ndoye, Delap, Schlager, Cunha, McAtee, Muñoz

Subs: Victor, Sangaré, Hudson-Odoi, Wood, Kalimuendo, Yates, Netz, Milenković, Aina

Arsenal

Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Guimaraes, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Eze; Havertz

Subs: Meslier, Mosquera, Timber, Gyökeres, Madueke, Merino, Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman