Nottingham Forest host Arsenal at the City Ground on Sunday, 18 October 2026, with kick-off at 18:30 GMT+3 in the Premier League.
After successive defeats against Coventry and Crystal Palace, Forest face another examination of their defensive resilience.
Read on for the full match preview, predictions and betting analysis.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Tips
- Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score @ with N/A
- Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: Bukayo Saka to Score Anytime @ with N/A
*Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Odds
| Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest |
|
| Draw |
|
| Arsenal |
|
*Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
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Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Predictions
Arsenal can punish Forest without keeping a clean sheet
Arsenal have won six, drawn two and lost two of their last 10 away league matches. Mikel Arteta also has options to refresh his starting line-up and change games from the bench, a useful advantage against opponents struggling to sustain results.
Forest have managed only one victory in their last 11 Premier League home outings, alongside seven draws and three defeats. Their difficulties stretch back into the second half of last season, a departure from the success enjoyed under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Successive losses to newly promoted Coventry and Crystal Palace have left Oliver Glasner’s side in the bottom half. Glasner questioned their handling of expectations against Coventry before criticising their finishing against his former club.
Yet Forest’s four consecutive home blanks do not tell the whole attacking story. They dominated possession and created the better chances at Selhurst Park, where they also took the lead. Their lack of ruthlessness proved costly, but they were still producing opportunities.
Arsenal have conceded in six of their last 10 Premier League away games, including their latest two. Forest’s chance creation at Palace makes another away clean sheet difficult to trust, so I’m backing Arsenal to win and both teams to score at 3.60.
Even Arsenal’s 2-0 victory at Sunderland came with chances conceded, as the Black Cats generated 1.8 expected goals. At the other end, the Gunners have scored at least twice in six of their last seven matches, maintaining a scoring rate that Forest’s fragile defence will struggle to contain.
Tip: Arsenal to Win and Both Teams to Score @ with N/A
Forest’s defensive lapses invite another two-goal return
Arsenal have scored multiple goals in six of their last seven matches. Two goals look a reasonable expectation against a Forest defence that conceded twice in the final five minutes of the first half at Crystal Palace.
Ousmane Diomande was partly responsible for both goals, although replays suggested the second should have been disallowed for handball. The £35m summer signing had also struggled against Coventry’s direct approach, so Forest’s defensive concerns extend beyond that disputed incident.
Home comforts have offered little relief. Forest have won once, drawn seven and lost three across their last 11 home league matches. Arsenal’s six wins from 10 away league fixtures, with two draws and two defeats, give the visitors a firmer record of turning these trips into victories.
Forest still have enough attacking evidence for a goal of their own. They led at Palace and created enough chances to win, despite ultimately losing. Their four home blanks remain a concern, but Arsenal have conceded in six of their last 10 away league games and in each of their latest two.
The Gunners also allowed Sunderland 1.8 expected goals during a 2-0 away win. Their recent defensive returns leave room for Forest to score once without requiring a major improvement in the hosts’ finishing.
Arsenal’s repeated two-goal returns make a 2-1 away win worth a look at 9.00.
Tip: Bukayo Saka to Score Anytime @ with N/A
