Latest Nottingham Forest verdict as Sean Dyche's Reds prepare to face Arsenal in key Premier League clash
05:00, 16 Jan 2026
Nottingham Forest's Ibrahim Sangare
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Nottingham Forest's Ibrahim Sangare(Image: Getty)
It will almost certainly be a much-changed line-up when Nottingham Forest welcome title challengers Arsenal to the City Ground on Saturday.
Head coach Sean Dyche did not hold back in his assessment of the Reds’ performance when they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Wrexham last week. In particular, he hit out at the visitors’ “unacceptable” first half display in Wales.
Dyche had handed a number of fringe players an opportunity to impress in the third round tie. But it was one many of them did not take.
Dyche said: “They all knock on your door and say: ‘Why aren't I playing?’ Well, the evidence was quite honestly there, for some, not for all.”
This weekend against the Gunners at the City Ground (5.30pm kick-off), then, is likely to see Forest go with tried and tested. Few others have put their hand up for a start, after all.
The key decision for Dyche surrounds whether to bring Ibrahim Sangare straight back into the XI. The midfielder returned to the banks of the Trent this week after Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations run came to an end.
The Reds have missed the 28-year-old - winning just once (against West Ham United) in his absence. But who could drop out to accommodate Sangare is another matter.
Elliot Anderson and Nicolas Dominguez started the last Premier League game together, against the Hammers, with Douglas Luiz on the bench. The latter has been the subject of rumours about his loan spell from Juventus so might once again be among the substitutes.
Ryan Yates could also be involved to some degree. The club captain trained with his teammates on the grass this week and is said to have come through fine. Most likely, his comeback will be from off the bench at some point, though.
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Dominguez would be the obvious choice to lose his place to Sangare but he has been in excellent form of late. Dyche could always utilise all three of Sangare, Dominguez and Anderson. He could opt to pack the centre of the pitch to try to stifle the Gunners or he could always deploy Dominguez out wide. The Argentine’s defensive discipline might come in handy in that respect, although it would mean one of Forest’s more natural wide men missing out.
Callum Hudson-Odoi was one of few to come away with credit after Wrexham. It was thanks to the winger’s brace Forest fought back to level terms before losing on penalties. If Dyche goes with Dominguez and Hudson-Odoi on the flanks, it would mean Omari Hutchinson and Dan Ndoye likely having to settle for spots on the bench.
The lack of options to shuffle his pack elsewhere highlights how the Reds could do with a bit of strengthening this month. They are certainly short up front, with Igor Jesus getting little respite at present.
Forest will go into the game looking for a much better performance than against Wrexham. Their victory over relegation rivals West Ham at the London Stadium last week moved them seven points clear of the bottom three, but they know there is work still to do.
Forest predicted XI: Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Sangare, Anderson; Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Jesus.
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