Nottingham Forest
Nuno dismisses exit talk and demands reinforcements after Forest draw at Palace
Nuno rejects reports of exit and urges urgent reinforcements as Forest draw 1-1 at Palace today now.
Nuno Espirito Santo moved to shut down speculation about his future after Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, while underlining an urgent need for summer signings.
The Portuguese, who signed a new contract in June after guiding Forest to European football for the first time since 1995, admitted his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated, in part because of the arrival of global head of football Edu Gaspar. Reports suggesting he might leave were rejected outright.
“Absolute nonsense. Absurd. This narrative, it’s absurd,”
retorted Nuno, when asked about the reports.
Pressed on whether he expected to remain in charge when the transfer window closes on September 1, he said: “I cannot answer that question, but what I know is that I am working and trying to do my job the best I can.”
Nuno insisted that a resolution was needed and that a conversation between the parties was the priority. “Of course, the situation has to be solved and we are responsible people. We can have a good conversation to create a good platform for what is more important, the team.
“We’re going to have it. We must. We need to have this conversation and we will have it. This is what I think is more important than anything.”
On the pitch, Callum Hudson-Odoi cancelled out Ismaila Sarr’s opener to earn Forest a draw at Selhurst Park. Nuno flagged a clear recruitment requirement, saying the club need at least three players, including one goalkeeper and two full-backs, to compete across four competitions. Forest are now expected to be in the Europa League as a consequence of Palace’s demotion to the Conference League over multi-club ownership rules.
The match featured banners from Palace supporters celebrating recent silverware, and one banner later criticised UEFA and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. Chants also referenced John Textor.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner praised his players: “Credit to the players with how they are dealing with the situation,” said Glasner. “Having also the fourth game within two weeks being unbeaten, and in these four games we played Liverpool, Chelsea and Nottingham, three teams from the top seven of last year’s table.
“We know that we can play better football than we did in some parts, especially in the second half, and we know we will do this, but the legs are getting a bit fatigued with many players who played every single minute.
“That’s the situation now and clearly players are dealing well with it, being unbeaten, and I also think a draw is a fair result today.”
Arsenal
Sunday Premier League Preview: Stakes High for Arsenal as London and Midlands Tests Await
Arsenal must beat Manchester United to restore a seven-point lead; Sunday also features key clashes.
Manchester City’s Saturday victory set up a pivotal Sunday in the Premier League. Arsenal know they must beat Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium to re-establish a seven-point advantage at the top. That match carries weight after Manchester United’s collective performance in last week’s derby and Bruno Fernandes’s praised role in a 2-0 win.
There is also a London derby when Crystal Palace host Chelsea, and Brentford welcome Nottingham Forest. Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea ended a run without a league win with a 2–0 victory over Brentford at Stamford Bridge, bringing his tally to three wins from four in charge. That run would be impressive for any Chelsea manager, but recent form in midweek suggests the Blues could struggle at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace remain in a tailspin. Steve Parish did not give into Oliver Glasner’s apparent wish to get the boot last weekend, so Glasner will occupy the home dugout as Palace seek their first league win since Dec. 7.
Prediction: Crystal Palace 1–1 Chelsea
Brentford’s season under Keith Andrews has exceeded early expectations. After a defeat at the City Ground in Gameweek 1, Andrews has guided the Bees to a campaign that looks set to better their best under Thomas Frank, when they finished ninth in 2022–23. Brentford sit seventh and have accumulated 24 points from 11 games at the Gtech, the fourth-best home record in the division. Nottingham Forest suffered an away Europa League defeat in Braga on Thursday, and that European slog may influence Sunday’s clash.
Prediction: Brentford 3–1 Nottingham Forest
The reverse fixture between Newcastle United and Aston Villa earlier in the season was uneventful, but Sunday’s meeting on Tyneside has potential. Aston Villa’s home loss to Everton increased pressure within the camp; Unai Emery’s post-match interview depicted a manager “on the brink and not one who’s distinctly overachieved.” Villa did win at Fenerbahçe on Thursday, while Newcastle cruised past PSV Eindhoven. The Magpies are inconsistent away but difficult to break down at home.
Prediction: Newcastle 3–2 Aston Villa
Arsenal
Ajax Reportedly Move for Zinchenko as Forest Loan Stalls
Ajax are reportedly in talks to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko as they seek cover at left back in January.
Ajax have been linked with a move for Oleksandr Zinchenko as his loan at Nottingham Forest struggles to deliver the game time hoped for when the deal was completed. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports the Eredivisie club want to “finalise” the signing of Zinchenko “as soon as possible,” and have opened talks with his agent, Jorge Mendes. The player has apparently given the green light to a potential switch.
The original loan to Forest surprised some observers, given the club had been bolstering the squad under then-manager Nuno Espiríto Santo to prepare for this season’s Europa League. Zinchenko has featured for 225 minutes in that competition but has played only limited Premier League minutes after a groin injury sidelined him for the best part of two months. Since returning to fitness, Sean Dyche has selected Zinchenko in the starting XI only once, a 2–0 home defeat that deepened the club’s relegation woes.
There has been previous speculation that the loan could be curtailed, and De Telegraaf’s report points to Ajax as a club prepared to take a punt. The Dutch side see him as capable of strengthening at left back and in the midfield No. 6 role. Zinchenko has significant experience in the heart of midfield for his country, where he is noted for tenacious tackling and lung-bursting runs from deep.
Statistically he has scored 12 times at international level and seven goals in 286 club appearances, reflecting the various positions he has occupied. Pep Guardiola once described Zinchenko’s best position and the adaptation that followed: “In the position that we have in the midfield, in the pockets as the attacking midfielder,” Pep Guardiola once said of Zinchenko’s best position. “That is his position, definitely. When we bought Oleks for £2 million from Ukraine, he was a No.10—a Phil Foden position, a creative player—but the needs we had… We didn’t have a left back for many years.” Settling in at left back then happened “because he is well-educated, he knows exactly what it means. He adapted and said: ‘Okay, what does the team need? I’m going to do it.’”
Arsenal
Contested Aina Handball Sends Arsenal Away With a Point After Goalless Draw
Referees ruled Aina’s arm natural after VAR check; Arteta said his side were denied a clear penalty.
Arsenal were left to wonder after Saturday’s goalless draw with Nottingham Forest when officials ruled that Ola Aina’s arm was in a natural position following a VAR check. The reprieve came despite television replays showing the ball brushed Aina’s arm and amid protest from Mikel Arteta.
The game lacked a breakthrough after Arsenal had squandered several early chances, most notably a skewed close-range effort from Gabriel Martinelli. The draw left Arteta’s side seven points clear of Manchester City after a thumping derby win for Manchester United earlier in the day. It also gave Aston Villa the opportunity to reduce the gap to four points should they beat Everton on Sunday.
On the field Michael Oliver had an obstructed view of the incident and halted play while in conversation with VAR Darren England. The Premier League Match Centre later clarified that “the ball was played off Aina’s shoulder first, while his arm was also in a natural position.” That assessment echoed the officials’ decision that Aina’s arm was natural.
Arteta did not accept the verdict, insisting his side had “obviously” been denied “a very clear penalty.” Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche responded differently. He was more concerned with a penalty appeal his side had missed after Jurriën Timber tangled with Callum Hudson-Odoi near the edge of the box. TNT Sports pundit and former Arsenal centre back Martin Keown dismissed the Forest complaints and pushed Dyche over the Aina handball, saying, “You’ve seen those given.”
Dyche remained adamant. “You might as well cancel football if you’re going to give that,” the firmly spoken coach twice repeated. “I’m being serious,” Dyche continued in the face of Keown’s exasperation.
The episode underlined continuing uncertainty over handball interpretations. The FA Handbook’s Law 11 states a player “is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation.” The match left both camps frustrated and the title race unchanged but tense.
