Arsenal’s match against Nottingham Forest was disrupted barely 18 minutes in when Mikel Arteta made the early change that signalled fresh selection headaches. Martin Ødegaard required extensive treatment from Arsenal’s physio and, after attempting to continue, was withdrawn and replaced by Ethan Nwaneri.

Ødegaard’s departure compounds concerns around the team. The captain’s recent performance levels have been questioned in recent weeks and months, and his exit added to an already stretched squad. Arteta was already without Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, three attacking players who would ordinarily expect significant minutes as starters.

Defensive availability also remained an issue. William Saliba missed the trip to Forest after sustaining an ankle injury prior to the 1–0 defeat to Liverpool before the international break. Saliba attempted to play at Anfield but was forced off after just five minutes. Arteta confirmed on Friday that Saliba was back in training, but he was not named in Arsenal’s squad when teamsheets were announced.

To cover absences, Arteta handed Eberechi Eze a first Arsenal start while Noni Madueke was selected on the opposite flank. Cristhian Mosquera was the player called upon to fill in for Saliba at the back. Those changes reflected the manager’s need to adapt his XI under constrained circumstances.

Arsenal’s mood improved shortly after the half-hour mark when Martín Zubimendi opened his goalscoring account for the club. After Madueke’s corner was partially cleared, Zubimendi produced a volley from outside the penalty area that flew into Matz Sels’ top corner. The goal provided a notable moment in a match influenced heavily by absences and early substitutions.

The Premier League resumes after the September international break with Arsenal hosting Nottingham Forest at the Emirates in Gameweek 4. Forest arrive under new management after a breakdown in relations between Nuno and the club’s hierarchy that cost the Portuguese his job. Evangelos Marinakis has been linked with Ange Postecoglou since he was ruthlessly sacked by Tottenham Hotspur, and Postecoglou is still chasing his first victory over Mikel Arteta.

Recent form is mixed. Arsenal were narrowly beaten by Liverpool before the break and will be keen to return to winning ways after an earlier run that included a 5–0 win over Leeds and a 3–0 victory over Athletic Club in pre-season. Nottingham Forest’s results since the start of August include a 3–1 win at Brentford and a 0–3 defeat to West Ham. Recent scorelines: Liverpool 1–0 Arsenal (31/08/25); Nottingham Forest 0–3 West Ham (31/08/25); Arsenal 5–0 Leeds (23/08/25); Crystal Palace 1–1 Nottingham Forest (24/08/25); Man Utd 0–1 Arsenal (17/08/25); Nottingham Forest 3–1 Brentford (17/08/25); Arsenal 3–0 Athletic Club (09/08/25); Nottingham Forest 0–0 Al Qadsiah (09/08/25); Arsenal 2–3 Villarreal (06/08/25); Nottingham Forest 0–0 Fiorentina (05/08/25).

Arsenal have seen Christian Nørgaard and Ben White return to training but neither is expected to start. Piero Hincapié, a Deadline Day signing, has been in action and could make his debut off the bench. The Gunners remain without Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, while William Saliba is set to miss the game with an ankle injury. Cristhian Mosquera is expected to fill in alongside Gabriel and there could be a first Arsenal start for Eberechi Eze on the left, with Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres either side.

Forest face their own absences. Right-back Ola Aina will undergo hamstring surgery after his issue on international duty, which opens the door for summer arrival Nicolò Savano to get minutes. Nicolás Dominguez, added to Forest’s Europa League squad by Nuno before his departure, is not expected back until later in the autumn. Oleksandr Zinchenko is ineligible to face his parent club.

Predicted lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Ødegaard; Madueke, Gyökeres, Eze.
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Savona, Milenković, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Luiz; Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.

Postecoglou has indicated continuity in approach but a pragmatic plan could suit Forest against an Arsenal side desperate to assert themselves at home. Given the transition at Forest, it would not be a surprise if the Gunners claimed the three points with some comfort.

Arsenal received a boost on Friday when manager Mikel Arteta confirmed William Saliba is back in training ahead of the match against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium. A previous report had suggested the 24-year-old could be sidelined for up to a month, but Arteta moved to clarify the situation after Friday’s session.

“Wilo trained today, so we’ll have a decision to make whether we play him or not, it’s very good news,” Arteta confirmed. The manager also confirmed Piero Hincapié is available after only two days’ work with the squad, giving Arteta additional defensive options as he assesses his starting line-up.

Forest travel to the Emirates with Ange Postecoglou installed as manager following Nuno Espírito Santo’s sudden dismissal. The Australian has signed an 18-month contract at the City Ground. The club will balance that transition with a notable absence of their own. Starting right back Ola Aina is expected to miss up to three months after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty.

Arsenal appear to have avoided any fresh issues stemming from the recent two-week break, though they will continue without Bukayo Saka for the immediate future. On his winger, Arteta said: “Let’s see, he’s evolving really well, with very specific work at the moment,” Arteta said of his star winger. “The moment that we increase that load, let’s see how he reacts.”

Additional squad news offered further cautious optimism for Arsenal. Ben White has returned to training, while Kai Havertz is progressing towards a return to action after undergoing knee surgery. With Saliba training and other defensive options available, Arteta faces a selection call that will influence how the home side lines up against a Forest side under new management.