Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Prediction for today 13 September 2025 - Football

🔊 Will the opening match of Premier League Round 4 deliver any surprises? On September 13, Arsenal are set to host Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. Both teams suffered defeats before the international break. For the Gunners, it didn't have any significant consequences, but for the Forest side, it led to the sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo. However, this decision was likely more due to a conflict between the Portuguese manager and the club president. A replacement was swiftly found in Ange Postecoglou, who spent two years at Tottenham. Given this backdrop, the match against Arsenal could carry extra significance for the Australian.

Head-to-Head

📊 In their last five head-to-head encounters, Nottingham have managed to snatch points from the Gunners a couple of times, but only on home turf. As the stats suggest, the Foresters should avoid trips to London. The aggregate score of their last four matches at the Emirates is a disastrous 1-15 for them.

Arsenal Team Overview

Arsenal have kicked off the season with a solid start, and their loss to Liverpool (0-1) in the last round doesn't overshadow that. On the pitch, the Gunners matched the hosts at Anfield, succumbing only to a last-minute free-kick stunner from Dominik Szoboszlai.

Some might argue that fate repaid Mikel Arteta's side for their victory over Manchester United (1-0) in the opening round, where the Red Devils arguably looked more impressive. Nonetheless, we acknowledge that the Londoners, even with some squad setbacks, delivered a commendable performance against the champions, although it was evident they would have settled for a draw.

Nottingham Forest Team Overview

The "Foresters" suffered a heavy defeat against West Ham (0-3) in the last round, but the scoreline doesn't truly reflect the match dynamics. The game was evenly contested, and Nottingham started the season fairly well, having secured four points prior. Thus, the dismissal of Nuno Espírito Santo likely stemmed from a conflict with the management—President Evangelos Marinakis and Sporting Director Edu.

What's surprising is who replaced the Portuguese manager. Ange Postecoglou advocates a completely different style of football, making it intriguing to see whether he will transform the "Reds" into an attacking side or deviate from his principles.

Latest news

Arsenal

✅ Sky Sports reports that Ben White and Christian Norgaard were spotted at Arsenal's training on September 11. The players are nearing a return to action.

❌ However, the hosts still have a significant injury list. Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, William Saliba, and Bukayo Saka will not feature in the upcoming match. These are substantial losses.

Nottingham Forest

🎙 Ange Postecoglou at his first press conference as Nottingham Forest manager: “This club has genuine ambitions, and that's very important to me. We have a fantastic squad. Last season, when I played against Nottingham, it was clear that there is real unity within the club, and you want to be part of that because you know it's the key to success. I'm familiar with the history of this football club and understand the responsibility I bear, and I'm ready to shoulder it. It's a great honor for me, but more importantly, I'm determined to ensure this football club takes its rightful place.”

❌ The Forest side faces just two absences ahead of the upcoming match. Ola Aina will be sidelined due to an injury sustained on international duty, and Oleksandr Zinchenko is unavailable due to the terms of his loan agreement.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

Darren England is a fairly strict referee, having shown 82 yellow cards across 19 Premier League matches last season, averaging 4.3 per game. This season, he maintains his pace with 9 yellows in just a couple of games.

Nottingham's away matches are also known for a high number of cautions, with at least 4 recorded in their last 6 outings. Considering the referee's stats, betting on a total of over 3.5 yellow cards seems reasonable.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

When these teams clash at the Emirates, expect goals. The over total has hit in the last 6 consecutive matches here, and there's no reason to anticipate a change in trend. Postecoglou is expected to unleash Nottingham's attacking potential, making a bet on over 2.5 goals a strong possibility.

🚩 Corner Predictions

In none of the last five head-to-head meetings has Nottingham managed more than 3.5 corners. Why would it happen now? Even Manchester United and Liverpool couldn't surpass this mark when facing the Gunners at home. This provides a solid basis to bet on under 3.5 corners for the visitors.

Postecoglou's arrival might give Nottingham a boost, but gauging its impact from the upcoming match will be challenging. We don't anticipate the "Forest" posing substantial threats to the title contenders. Even if they opt for their usual defensive style, Arsenal, in our view, will manage to break through. Arteta's squad possesses lethal set-pieces, a formidable weapon against a deep defense.

A goal from the visitors isn't out of the question, so our score prediction is a 3-1 victory for Arsenal. As for the bet, we'll keep it straightforward—over 1.5 goals from Arsenal. The Londoners have surpassed this mark in their last six home encounters against Forest.