Nottingham Forest host Arsenal at The City Ground, Nottingham in Gameweek 7 on Sun 18 Oct, 16:30 BST. Nottingham Forest are 15th on 5 points from 6 games (form DDWLL), Arsenal are 2nd on 15 (form WWWLW). The FPL deadline is Saturday 17 October 2026, 11:00 BST, so check team news before you lock your squad.
Nottingham Forest: the story so far
Nottingham Forest have scored 5 and conceded 8 in 6 league games, and last time out it was L 1–3 at Crystal Palace in GW6. At home they have 1 points from 3 games. Official FPL list, 2026-10-14: Igor Jesus (calf injury: Unknown return date); Milenković (knee injury: Unknown return date). Expected shape: 5-4-1.
Nottingham Forest Predicted Starting XI & Lineup · 5-4-1
Official lineups confirmed 1 hour before kick-off.
Arsenal: what changed
Arsenal have scored 10 and conceded 5 in 6 league games, and last time out it was W 2–1 v Leeds United in GW6. Away from home they have 6 points from 3 games. Official FPL list, 2026-10-14: Tzolis (hamstring injury: Expected back 1 Nov); Hincapie (ankle injury: 75% chance of playing); Zubimendi (unspecified injury: 75% chance of playing). Expected shape: 4-5-1.
Facts to know
- Nottingham Forest: W 2–1 at Aston Villa, L 0–1 v Coventry City, L 1–3 at Crystal Palace.
- Arsenal: W 2–0 at Sunderland, L 0–3 at Brighton & Hove Albion, W 2–1 v Leeds United.
- Table before this round: Nottingham Forest 15th (5 pts, GD -3), Arsenal 2nd (15 pts, GD +5).
Where it turns
Morgan Gibbs-White against Arsenal's defence is the matchup to watch: Arsenal have conceded 5 in 6. In the other direction, Bukayo Saka faces the Nottingham Forest defence that has conceded 8 in 6. FPL rates this fixture 4/5 for Nottingham Forest and 3/5 for Arsenal, where 5 is hardest.
Fantasy angle
- Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest, £8.0m): averaging 5.0 points a game (30 in total), FPL projects 2.0 for this round, 14.8% owned, on penalties.
- Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, £9.6m): averaging 5.7 points a game (34 in total), FPL projects 2.0 for this round, 16.7% owned, on penalties.
- Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal, £6.8m): averaging 5.0 points a game (30 in total), FPL projects 1.5 for this round, 19.8% owned.
- Clean-sheet angle: Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal, £5.9m) away from home, with Arsenal the side our model rates less likely to concede (0.8 expected goals against).
- Differential: Murillo (Nottingham Forest, £5.5m) is owned by just 2.1% and averages 4.2 points a game.
Score prediction
Our model, built on 2026/27 goals scored and conceded, gives Nottingham Forest a 22% win chance, a draw 28% and Arsenal 50%, with 0–1 the single most likely scoreline. Expected goals: 0.8 for Nottingham Forest, 1.4 for Arsenal. Arsenal are the lean on the numbers, but only 6 games have been played, so treat it as a guide rather than a certainty.