Stage set: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
Pace setters Arsenal travel to Nottingham Forest this evening knowing that they can stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table. Mikel Arteta’s side go into this game at the City Ground today buoyed after the result at Old Trafford, where Manchester United swept past Manchester City 2-0 on Michael Carrick’s second bow as interim manager earlier this afternoon. It means that the Gunners can go nine points clear at the summit, with Aston Villa also potential beneficiaries when they face Everton.
The north Londoners are in good form, unbeaten since the start of December when they were defeated in the final minutes at Villa Park by Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. They showed real grit to grind out a 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup in midweek, overcoming a tricky Chelsea side that just would not lie down, and they responded to a real scare in the FA Cup when Portsmouth took an early lead in the third round at Fratton Park.
Forest, meanwhile, will be desperate for a win to move themselves further clear of the dreaded drop zone, where they sit seven points clear but just one place above the dotted line. Keep up to date with all the action with our live blog below.
Forest team news
Forest may be able to call on Ivorian duo Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly after the Elephants were knocked out of AFCON by Mohamed Salah’s Egypt last week.
Elsewhere, John Victor is expected to miss out with a knee injury, while Chris Wood is due to be absent through late February with a knee injury of his own.
Ryan Yates may be involved, though, after recovering from a thigh injury and returning to first-team training.
How to watch
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 4.30pm ahead of a 5.30pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the discovery+ app and website.
Hello and welcome!
... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners can extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points with victory here. Can they do it?
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 5.30pm GMT.