Opponents Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions and moved one step closer to the Carabao Cup final in midweek by beating Chelsea in the first leg of their semi-final tie. Angry Forest head coach Sean Dyche rebuked his much-changed side for a "completely unacceptable" first-half performance at Wrexham which left them trailing 2-0 before fighting back in vain.
After a potentially pivotal top-flight away win against fellow strugglers West Ham and an FA Cup exit on penalties in Wrexham, Nottingham Forest play at home for the first time in 2026.
Opponents Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions and moved one step closer to the Carabao Cup final in midweek by beating Chelsea in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
Trouble by the Trent
Angry Forest head coach Sean Dyche rebuked his much-changed side for a "completely unacceptable" first-half performance at Wrexham which left them trailing 2-0 before fighting back in vain.
Dyche's withering assessment could just as easily be applied to Forest's home form. Six defeats at the City Ground so far is their joint most after 10 home league matches of a season. They have only once lost seven of their first 11 and that was in 1908.
Forest have already lost and conceded more often at home than in the whole of last season. Nonetheless, the collapse in their home form began as far back as April. Forest have had as many managers as wins - three - in their past 14 home league games, and only West Ham and Spurs have fared worse at home during that time among teams currently in the division.
Arsenal's unsung game changer
League leaders Arsenal are also top of the Champions League table with a flawless record, through to the FA Cup fourth round and will go into their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg early next month with a one-goal advantage over Chelsea.
Arsenal's resilience has been questioned during the past five seasons without a trophy, but summer signing Martin Zubimendi has infused the team with steel and composure. The defensive midfielder's imperious winning goal in midweek brought him rare headlines, even if the plaudits for his performances have been a regular theme.
"He can do whatever he wants," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the Chelsea game. "We just have to keep unlocking that in his brain, because he's so good at occupying different spaces, carrying the ball, dribbling, winning duels and he has a talent when he gets into the final third and into the box. He's so composed, he sees the picture very clearly."
Zubimendi's importance to Arsenal is highlighted by the fact he has made the most starts and played the most minutes of any outfield player at the club. He also leads the way for interceptions, an indicator of his astute reading of the game, while only two central or defensive midfielders in the Premier League have been involved in more passages of open play leading to a shot.
Category: General Sports
