Nuno facing key decision as Nottingham Forest XI predicted for crunch Arsenal clash
Nuno facing key decision as Nottingham Forest XI predicted for crunch Arsenal clash
One of the key themes of Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s pre-match press conference on Tuesday was the unpredictability of the Premier League.
The Portuguese put the Reds’ recent mixed run of form down to how tough the division is rather than any particular blip. With that in mind, he insisted it is impossible to predict how the rest of the season is going to pan out.
Nuno is right, of course. The table is so tight in the race for the European spots. Forest remain well placed but they will certainly be eager to get back on track.
Sunday’s 4-3 loss at Newcastle United made it two successive defeats on the road in the league, and Nuno’s men have picked up just two wins in their last six league games. On a more positive note, their last outing at the City Ground ended in a 7-0 thumping of Brighton and Hove Albion. Forget about struggles on their travels for a moment, their solid home record should be reason for encouragement ahead of tonight’s clash with Arsenal (7.30pm kick-off).
Arguably the biggest decision facing Nuno with regards team selection concerns his midfield. Although the visitors were below par in the first half at St James’ Park, their fightback after the break should be something to build on, and there is no reason to completely rip up the starting XI.
Against the Magpies, Nuno brought in Nicolas Dominguez to partner Elliot Anderson in the centre of the pitch. However, the Argentine didn’t exactly make the impact it was hoped for as Forest lost the midfield battle in the opening 45 minutes.
This is one area where Nuno is not short of options, if he does want to make a change. Danilo started the previous game, against Fulham, but was left out of the squad on Sunday purely as a selection decision due to the resources the Reds have.
The Brazilian could be a contender to return to the line-up against the Gunners, while Ibrahim Sangare might also be considered after he contributed to Forest’s late revival from off the bench at the weekend. It would come as no surprise, though, if Ryan Yates is the man to get the nod.
Yates gave his team hope when he scored their third right on the 90 minute mark against Newcastle. It was exactly the kind of impact the Reds needed from one of their substitutes.
Nuno values what Yates has to offer, both on and off the pitch. If Forest want to get in Arsenal’s faces and wind up Mikel Arteta’s side, he is the man. The Nigel Doughty Academy graduate has been entrusted to start some big games already this term, so perhaps he will get the green light again.
Whatever line-up Nuno goes with, he wants his players to show the same kind of fight they did in the second half at St James’ Park. They were 4-1 down at the break, despite having taken an early lead, but could easily have ended up with a draw. That rather backs up Nuno’s point about how the Premier League is so far from predictable.
“We don’t know what to expect. We have to prepare for everything,” he said. “All the plans of all the managers in the Premier League and all over the world, I believe, are based on two aspects – how to score and then how to hold. It cannot be the other way around, because it doesn’t make sense. How can you explain to a player, first we are going to defend and then we are going to score? No. It doesn’t make sense.
“Based on that, you have a plan. My plan and your plan are the same, but eventually one of those has to change during the game and that’s what you cannot predict.”
Predicted Forest XI: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Yates; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood.
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