Lord Bendtner's free-scoring Forest a danger for Arsenal

Match Preview: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal - EFL Cup - 20.09.2016

A League Cup tie is always a hard one to predict or preview in truth, especially when so many call it by so many different names! Coca-Cola Cup, Milk Cup, Carling Cup, well now we’re told it is ‘The EFL Cup’ apparently…

So what to expect from The Arsenal as they travel to Nottingham to face 51 year old Frenchman Philippe Montanier’s Forest side? Well, the main thing we can almost be assured of is a heavily changed line up from Saturday’s 1-4 success at Hull. Fringe players and youngsters look set to feature for Wenger as the Manager will look to rest a few star names.

As for Forest the likelihood of a debut for former Gunners man Nicklas Bendtner seems inevitable with skipper Henri Lansbury also likely to feature against his former club as well. Players such as Kasami, Carayol, Lica & the super talented Ben Osborn will pose a significant threat to the North Londoners on the night.

Arsenal will see some unfamiliar faces tomorrow night, ‘The Jeff’ Reine-Adelaide and Chuba Akpom seem the front runners for rare starting berths though I also think there is a good chance we’ll see Kristian Bielik at centre half and Emiliano Martinez getting a nod between the sticks. Elsewhere the likelihood of Gibbs & Debuchy adding experience at full-back along with a strong looking Elneny/Xhaka axis at the base of midfield suggests to me The Gunners have more than enough to make this game winnable. If you think this game will be a breeze for the Gunners it's worth remembering Sheffield Wednesday from last season to give you a bump back to Earth!

I am keen to see the bench players such as Chris Willock, Gedion Zelalem or Ismael Bennacer and I could even see a surprise naming of a Fortune, Mavididi or Vlad Dragomir, all of which have impressed at youth level.

I expect goals from this game! I could be wrong (it happens!) but looking at the potential inexperience in Arsenal’s line up coupled with Forest’s open backline suggests we could get a thriller, with Arsenal nicking this game by the odd goal but one thing is for sure, ‘The Lord’ will leave some sort of mark on this game. COYG!

LAST 3 MEETINGS

• Forest 0-1 Arsenal (16.01.1999)
• Arsenal 2-1 Forest (17.08.1998)
• Arsenal 2-0 Forest (08.03.1997)

FACTFILE

• Arsenal have won 19 of their 43 games at the City Ground.
• The last meeting of the two in Nottingham ended 0-1 to Arsenal in 1999.
• Nottingham Forest have failed to keep a clean sheet all season.

INJURIES

Ramsey, Mertesacker, Giorud & Jenkinson ruled out. Gabriel doubtful.

STARTING XI

Martinez, Debuchy, Holding, Bielik, Gibbs, Elneny, Xhaka, Reine-Adelaide, Lucas, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Akpom.

GOONERSPHERE'S PREDICTION

Nottingham Forest 2-3 Arsenal

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