Premier League
Arsenal

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal - as it happened

Hurria Butt 6 months ago 15.8k |

Reading time: minutes

Forest v Arsenal, matchday 27, 2024/25, Premier League, 26/02/2025, lineups. BeSoccer
Forest v Arsenal, matchday 27, 2024/25, Premier League, 26/02/2025, lineups. BeSoccer
Join us for LIVE coverage of the matchday 27 Premier League showdown between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal, kick-off at 20:30 at the City Ground in Nottingham, England. The Gunners need a win against third-placed Forest to keep their title hopes alive.
Press

Match report in news

End of match

End of match

  • 90+5'
    FT: Forest 0-0 Arsenal. The Gunners leave the City Ground with only a point, denting their hopes to challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title, while Forest can continue dreaming of Champions League football as they hold on to third place on the table.
  • 90+3'
    Free kick for Arsenal. This could be the last kick of the game...
  • 90'
    FOUR MINUTES OF ADDED TIME!!
  • 88'
    Corner for the Tricky Trees as White gets deflects the ball behind.
Substitution

Substitution

at Arsenal
Substitution

Substitution

at Nottingham Forest
Substitution

Substitution

at Arsenal
  • 85'
    Two subs for Arsenal: White and Partey ON, Timber and Odegaard OFF.
  • 85'
    Forest make one chance as Wood comes off for Awoniyi.
  • 83'
    Unbelievable clearance from Murillo!!! Odegaard thought he had scored but the defender had the opposite in mind. The linesman raised the flag after the chance to signal Trossard's offside position in the build-up, so it wouldn't have counted anyways, but incredible defending nonetheless from the Forest man.
  • 82'
    Foul from Milenkovic from the set-piece and Arsenal get the ball back.
  • 80'
    Foul from Trossard on Anderson.
  • 79'
    Merino again with the header but Wood gets a touch on it to concede another corner.
  • 78'
    Arsenal give away a cheap corner to Forest.
Substitution

Substitution

at Arsenal
  • 77'
    Nwaneri leaves the pitch as Arsenal boss Arteta brings on Sterling.
  • 76'
    Merino makes amends for giving away the foul as he heads Hudson-Odoi's set-piece away from danger.
  • 75'
    Foul from Merino and Forest get a free-kick in attack. Not a nice challenge from the Spaniard midfielder - now striker.
  • 72'
    Incredible recovery from Saliba to deny Wood! The Forest striker had got away from the Frenchman but the latter somehow made his way back to block his shot. Marvellous defending.
  • 69'
    First big chance for Forest! Wood was handed the perfect opportunity from Gibbs-White's pass in the box but he was unable to curl it past Raya, who stuck his hands out to save the ball.
  • 69'
    Foul from Trossard, who hangs onto Hudson-Odoi to not let him run away with the ball.
  • 67'
    Mikel Merino loses his boot as Milenkovic clips onto the Spaniard from behind.
  • 65'
    Foul from Yates from Odegaard.
  • 64'
    Finally, it is Forest who get a corner as Tierney takes no risks as he sends Gibbs-White's cross behind.
Substitution

Substitution

at Nottingham Forest
  • 63'
    Nuno makes one more change as Dominguez is subbed off for Danilo.
Substitution

Substitution

at Nottingham Forest
  • 62'
    Elange is replaced by Yates for Forest.
  • 60'
    Rice had a chance to have a shot from close range but it was a difficult ball for the English midfielder to control and Sels comes out to collect the ball comfortably.
  • 58'
    Fifth corner of this half for the visitors. Nwaneri attempted an ambitious shot from outside the box but it got deflected behind.
  • 57'
    Forest have been very quiet in this second half while Arsenal are definitely on the front foot. They are just missing that final pass to trouble the home side's defence.
  • 54'
    Murillo gets a big block on Timber's cross and it's yet another corner for Arsenal - their fourth in this second half and we are only ten minutes in....
  • 53'
    Annnnnnnd yes, you've guessed it! Another corner for the corner kings.
  • 51'
    Merino with a dangerous header from the corner! The makeshift No. 9 directed the ball on target but Sels got his fists out to push it away. Big chance there..
  • 50'
    Another corner, this time on the other half as Wood gets a touch with the slide.
  • 49'
    Nwaneri earns a corner for Arsenal.
Substitution

Substitution

at Arsenal
  • 46'
    One change at half time: Calafiori, who was on a yellow, leaves the pitch to make way for Tierney.
  • 46'
    Second half is underwayyyyyyy!
  • 45+1'
    HT: Forest 0-0 Arsenal.
  • 45'
    One minute of added time!
  • 41'
    Nwaneri with a good chance to score from close range after being released by Calafiori but Murillo gets an important touch on the ball to send it behind for a Forest corner.
  • 38'
    Forest get a free-kick in attack thanks to Merino's foul.
  • 38'
    Hudson-Odoi whipped in a good cross looking for Wood but Gabriel sticks a foot out to intercept the ball.
  • 35'
    Odegaard's ball from the free-kick was dangerous but the referee blew the whistle before any player was even able to make contact with it due to Jorginho's foul on Williams.
  • 34'
    Foul from Anderson on Merino, who earns a promising free-kick from just outside the box for his side.
  • 31'
    Dominguez has not been able to contain Calafiori so far in this game. The Italian defender has looked very dangerous in this first 30 minutes., with just the post denying him a goal.
  • 28'
    Very even game so far, who will be able to break the deadlock?
  • 26'
    Foul from Nwaneri on Wood in the Forest half.
  • 24'
    Calafiori hits the post! The Italian full-back got away easily from Dominguez before firing a shot at Sels. He would've handed Arsenal the lead but the woodwork denies him
  • 22'
    Hudson-Odoi goes down in the box after a challenge from Calafiori and Forest are asking for the penalty but the referee is hearing none of it!
  • 20'
    Trossard earns a promising free-kick on the left flank for Arsenal following Aina's foul.
  • 18'
    Another corner for the Gunners as Aina was the last man to touch the ball.
  • 16'
    Rice shoots at goal from range but Dominguez gets a touch on the ball to send out behind for a corner.
  • 15'
    Gabriel gets down to stop Wood from having a 1v1 against Raya in front of goal. Providential tackle from the Brazilian.
  • 14'
    Raya was risking big there as he had Hudson-Odoi running at him but the Spaniard managed to get the pass away to Calafiori in the end.
  • 13'
    Tempo has now slowed down as teams look more compact.
  • 11'
    Great defensive recovery front Hudson-Odoi to deny Trossard from having a clear chance on goal.
  • 10'
    Rice got away nicely with the ball at his feet as he goes for goal but his shot is straight at Milenkovic.
  • 8'
    Arsenal are definitely taken aback by how aggressively Forest are playing. They are showing no fear so far.
  • 6'
    The corner comes to nothing in the end as Forest win a goal kick after Arsenal opted for a short free-kick.
  • 5'
    Corner for Arsenal and the Gunners seem to have a scheme ready to deploy.
Card

Yellow card

a Nottingham Forest
  • 4'
    Another yellow card at the City Ground, this time for the home side. Milenkovic is booked for blocking Arsenal from taking a quick free-kick.
Card

Yellow card

a Arsenal
  • 3'
    Yellow card for Calafiori for holding back Hudson-Odoi on the break. The Italian will have to be cautious for the rest of the game.
  • 1'
    Forest immediately starting with an aggressive approach. Elanga was looming dangerously towards the goal but his shot was blocked by Saliba.
  • 1'
    Underway at the City Ground for Forest-Arsenal!!
Start of match

Start of match

  • PRVW
    Players are out of the tunnel, here we gooooooooo!!
  • PRVW
    On the bench for Mikel Arteta's side: Neto, Kiwior, White, Zinchenko, Tierney, Partey, Sterling, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji.
  • PRVW
    Arsenal's starting XI (4-3-3): Raya (GK); Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Merino.
  • PRVW
    On the bench for Nuno Espirito Santo's side: Hennessey, Morato, Sangare, Awoniyi, Moreno, Jota, Yates, Sosa, Danilo.
  • PRVW
    Nottingham Forest's starting XI (4-2-3-1): Sels (GK); Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Dominguez, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
  • PRVW
    Confirmed lineups have landed at the City Ground!! Let's see what they're saying, starting as always with the hosts...
  • PRVW
    Arsenal's possible starting XI (4-3-3): Raya (GK); Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling.
  • PRVW
    Nottingham Forest's possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Sels (GK); Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Yates, Anderson; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
  • PRVW
    With that all settled, let's warm things up with some possible lineups!!
  • PRVW
    Myles Lewis-Skelly will be suspended following his red card against the Hammers. Elsewhere, Ethan Nwaneri limped off late on against West Ham on Saturday but Arteta provided a reassuring update post-match and he should be fit to feature against Forest.
  • PRVW
    But the same cannot be said for Arsenal. The Gunners continue to count the absences of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu all out for the rest of the season.
  • PRVW
    As well as home advantage, Forest have also been blessed with a clean bill of health as midfielders Ibrahim Sangare and Danilo returned to action over the past month. Their only absentee for the match is back-up goalkeeper Carlos Miguel, who is out due to a hamstring injury.
  • PRVW
    The Tricky Trees will also be keen on claiming victory to continue pushing for their Champions League dream. And their form at home makes them a tough rival for Arsenal. Before Brighton thrashed them 7-0 at the start of February, Forest had been unbeaten on home soil since November.
  • PRVW
    Nuno Espirito Santo's side have been the revelation of the season, sitting in third place with 53 points - 6 behind their upcoming guests. Although they have recently been faltering, losing three of their last four games, Forest are still a point ahead of Chelsea, who climbed to fourth after thrashing the Saints last night.
  • PRVW
    Despite their title chances having taken a huge hit, Mikel Arteta insisted that his team won't be giving up on the season anytime soon. But the City Ground will be no an easy visit.
  • PRVW
    Only a win will do tonight for the Gunners, who were shockingly defeated by West Ham at the weekend. The loss handed Arteta's side a major setback in their bid to win the Premier League title as leaders Liverpool stretched their gap to 11 point following their win over Manchester City - their first win at the Etihad in a decade.
Info

Pre-match

26 February 2025, 20:30

Referee: Andy Madley | VAR: Michael Salisbury

Stadium: The City Ground

  • PRVW
    Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the matchday 27 Premier League showdown between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal, kick-off at 20:30 at the City Ground in Nottingham, England.