Arsenal head to the City Ground with a familiar priority, win the league game in front of them, then think about Europe later. The talk around this one starts with Bukayo Saka, and rightly so. After being held back in midweek because of a minor illness issue, he came on, changed the game quickly and looked like a player ready to start again.

That matters because Arsenal are a different side when Saka is in the XI. He gives them width, carries the ball with purpose and forces defenders to make decisions they do not want to make. Against Nottingham Forest, that should put him straight back into Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup.

Saka return gives Arsenal sharper edge

Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard are also expected to return from the start. That restores a lot of what Arsenal missed in patches recently, control through the middle, cleaner movement in the final third and better timing around the box. Arsenal have already banked two wins in Europe, so there is no obvious reason to rotate heavily here.

Riccardo Calafiori looks set to benefit after being rested completely in midweek. At right-back, Arteta has a choice. Ben White may get the nod over Jurrien Timber, with Timber’s workload still being handled carefully after his injury issues.

Selection calls around Arteta’s midfield and defence

Further forward, Eberechi Eze did himself no harm by scoring in the comfortable win over Lille. Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino, by contrast, did not do enough to force the manager’s hand. Noni Madueke remains an option from the left, particularly while Christos Tzolis stays out with the hamstring problem he picked up on international duty with Greece.

Martin Zubimendi could return to the squad, though Piero Hincapie is still unavailable because of an ankle injury. William Saliba is back in individual training after a serious back issue, which is progress, but nothing more than that for now.

Predicted Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest

There is a Bayern Munich trip coming up, but this is not the game to get clever. Arsenal need rhythm, authority and three points.

Predicted Arsenal XI, 4-2-3-1: Raya, White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Guimaraes, Saka, Odegaard, Eze, Havertz.

Injury latest and match details

Unavailable: Saliba, Hincapie, Tzolis.

Doubt: Zubimendi.

Kick-off is at 4:30pm BST on Sunday October 18, 2026, at the City Ground. Arsenal will expect a difficult game, but with Saka back and key starters restored, they also have enough to impose themselves.