Nottingham Forest enjoyed a brilliant campaign last season, with the UEFA Conference League awaiting the Reds when football returns in August.
Anthony Elanga has attracted interest from Newcastle after his brilliant performances across the course of the season, and he’s not the only one.
Arsenal have been linked with Elanga too, and it’s not a surprise really given that he scored six goals and claimed 12 assists last season.
Forest will still be at the mercy of bigger clubs when it comes to the transfer market and there will be some anxiety over a number of players during the window.
Arsenal might not move for any of the Forest stars this summer, but a former Premier League player thinks one player would be superb for the Gunners if he were placed in their team.
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Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood would be perfect for Arsenal
Darren Ambrose has been speaking about Arsenal’s search for a new striker on TalkSPORT.
He’s not entirely convinced that the Gunners need a superstar signing and thinks someone like Wood could be a perfect signing for Mikel Arteta.
He said live on TalkSPORT: “What are we looking for if you’re Arsenal? Are they looking for a superstar that you go and pay £100m for?
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“This is why my argument for Chris Wood and Mateta is an argument that will get ridiculed, but Chris Wood has scored 34 Premier League goals in the last two seasons, that’s a proven Premier League goalscorer, so why is that frowned upon.
“If you put him in front of goal, he’s going to score, yes, he’s 33 and yes, there is no sell-on value, and I’m not advocating that Arsenal go and sign Chris Wood, but what are you looking for at Arsenal?
“If you put Chris Wood in the Arsenal side, he gets 20 goals. Look at the goals he’s scoring now, he’s an out-and-out goalscorer.
“The reaction you’ve given me there is what Arsenal fans would do, they’d say ‘oh we can’t have Chris Wood’, why?”
👏 “He’s a proven #PL goalscorer…”
👀 “If you put Chris Wood in the Arsenal team, he’d get over 20 league goals.”
Darren Ambrose asks why Arsenal shouldn’t look at players like Chris Wood & Mateta pic.twitter.com/j1Og0pXNhe
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 16, 2025
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Wood can thrive with squad rotation policy next season
Having scored 34 goals in the last two seasons, Wood more than deserves a chance to start the season in attack next season.
However, at 33, there will come a point when he starts to slow down and the signing of Igor Jesus is one that is definitely needed.
The Brazilian will allow Wood to play fewer games, and the emphasis placed on him being ready to play every game won’t be quite so important with other options in the squad.
Wood has been a revelation at Forest but given his age it’s time for Forest to start managing his game time accordingly from next season.