Arsenal picked up a win against Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday and next up, they will start their Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners will welcome Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday and Mikel Arteta will be hoping his players can start the new season with a fresh perspective after missing out on the title by just five points last campaign.
Arsenal have gotten back into the Champions League which is why they have gone out and spent money on some very massive signings this summer. So far, they have spent more than £200 million on new arrivals and it is safe to say that Edu and co have managed to solve most of the issues that had bothered Arsenal during the 2022/23 season.
Coming to this Saturday’s match, the North London side are the overwhelming favourites to pick up a win in the opening game week. These two sides had met in the final weeks of May and it was Forest who had picked up a surprise 1-0 win at home but we doubt if such an upset is going to happen this weekend.
The Gunners’ team news and injury updates:
The Gunners will go into their first game of the season with a few injuries and the first major miss will be that of Zinchenko who is out with a calf injury. Oleksandr Zinchenko picked up the injury during Arsenal’s pre-season tour and he is only going to return some time towards the end of this month.
New signing Jurrien Timber played as the left-back in the Community Shield final but we don’t think the Arsenal manager will use him in the same position on Saturday. Timber is naturally a centre-back and will return to this position alongside William Saliba which will allow Kieran Tierney to come into the starting line up.
Jorginho is another player who is out with a muscle injury while Elneny is recovering from a knee issue but thankfully, Mikel Arteta’s worries for the midfield have gone after signing Declan Rice. Rice will be one of the first names on Arsenal’s teamsheets this season as the England international is going to partner Thomas Partey in the middle of the pitch.
Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score the equaliser against Manchester City on Sunday but we don’t think he will get a start against Nottingham Forest. Martinelli will play out on the left flank with Bukayo Saka operating on the right.
Gabriel Jesus is ruled out with a knee injury which will allow summer signing Kai Havertz to remain the undisputed number nine for the first couple of matchweeks. Trossard can also play as a centre-forward but for this weekend, the Arsenal manager will put his faith in Havertz.
Jesus has undergone knee surgery after complaining of an irritation but Mikel Arteta has claimed that the Brazil international will be back very soon.
Arsenal predicted line up vs Burnley:
Predicted Starting XI(4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; Tierney, Timber, William Saliba; Ben White; Declan Rice, Partey; Odegaard, Martinelli, Bukayo Saka; Havertz.
