Back three, White starts, Nwaneri and Tierney roles – Arsenal line-ups vs Nottingham Forest

Arsenal will be looking to respond to their defeat to West Ham United with a statement result away at one of the league’s trickiest grounds. Beating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground would be an almighty boost, especially ahead of the last-16 in the Champions League.

The squad remains thin on attacking options, and that is something which Arteta now must continue to try and solve despite repetitively highlighting the shortcomings and subsequent overachievement, in his mind, this season based on those restrictions.

The return of Ben White against West Ham offers something different and there are other players who can provide variance in the team. With that in mind football.london gives their thoughts on who they would start on Wednesday evening. With a big decision changing the structure of his side.

Tom Canton

Something needs to change and for me, the wide areas have been a real disappointment in recent weeks, struggling to have the desired impact. Ben White’s return along with the option of Kieran Tierney, for me, means there is a chance to return to a back three with wing-backs flanking.

That back three is made up of Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes – it makes sense. Thomas Partey and Declan Rice adding further cover and security.

Then Martin Odegaard supporting a top two of Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard. The wing-backs offer the width and penetration while finally adding something of an unpredictable feel to this team that has been missing for some time.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest – Raya; White, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Trossard, Nwaneri

Sam Truelove

What a tough test this is. Arsenal must win at high-flying Nottingham Forest as anything but a win really would end any title talk. For me, David Raya starts in goal with William Saliba and Gabriel as the centre-backs. I would bring in Ben White at right-back and Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, with the Ukrainian given licence to come inside when the Gunners are in possession.

Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard would be my three in the middle. The midfield could be where the game is won or lost as Forest will battle hard and give little or nothing away. There is a temptation to leave Partey or Rice out for Mikel Merino, but I’m not sure this is the right time for such a change.

Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri are my picks for the forward line. Sterling and Trossard need to step up here and really prove their worth. Nathan Butler-Oyedeji may get more minutes off the bench, too, although if this happens it will be if Arsenal are chasing the game.

Truelove’s Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest – Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling

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