Arsenal will battle Nottingham Forest on Saturday morning in the Premier League on Matchday 4 in a battle between two European-caliber opponents as the English top flight returns from the September international break.
Here are the five best players to watch in this weekend’s marquee matchup.
Arsenal RB Jurrien Timber
Jurrien Timber has been a menace on set pieces to start the 2025/26 Premier League season, which has become something of a secret weapon – or maybe a major reliance – for manager Mikel Arteta.
The Dutch defender is versatile, hard-nosed, solid on the ball, and so brilliant at marking players. Arsenal fans know how good he is, but I wonder if other Premier League supporters are underrating him severely.
Nottingham Forest CM Elliot Anderson
Elliot Anderson just got his cup of coffee with the England national team, and everyone is raving about the young midfielder’s start to the 2025/26 season for both club and country.
All the big clubs in the Premier League are watching Anderson, who is one of several up-and-coming Nottingham Forest gems. He’s had a strong start to the season and will try to keep it going against one of the most structured teams and dominant midfields in the league.
Arsenal ST Viktor Gyokeres
There’s a lot of pressure on the high-priced Viktor Gyokeres to turn things around as the solution for Arsenal up top, as the Gunners chose him after years of not signing a true fox in the box at the No. 9 position.
The early returns on Gyokeres have been a mixed bag, but for all the ease by which rival fanbases have slagged off the Swedish international, he actually hasn’t been bad to start life at the Emirates and has shown signs of an impending breakout.
Nottingham Forest ST Chris Wood
Chris Wood is the centerpiece player of a very underrated Nottingham Forest attack, and he’s had 14 and 20 goals in the last two seasons, respectively, leading Forest by example with his clinical finishing and aerial prowess.
The big, strong No. 9 already has two goals in three games to start the 2025/26 Premier League season, and there’s honestly no question that in this league, he will be the best striker on the pitch on Saturday.
Arsenal GK David Raya
And David Raya will likely have to make a few big saves to keep another clean sheet against Wood’s Forest. Raya is one of the best goalkeepers on this planet, yet he still feels underrated despite playing for a massive club in Arsenal. He is a clean sheet and highlight reel save machine.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.