Arsenal v Nottingham Forest

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Preview

Arsenal will take on Nottingham Forest in their opening game of the Premier League season at their Emirates Stadium as the hosts look to emulate last season's runners-up finish under manager, Mikel Arteta, while Forest will just be happy to pick up a point in what would be considered an excellent result.

If Arsenal fans had been told their team would finish runners-up in last season's Premier League campaign before a ball was kicked then the majority of them would have bitten the proverbial arm off - but one can't help feeling a sense of huge disappointment at The Gunners blowing their chance of a league title especially when it was in their own hands.

Arsenal held a seven-point cushion over Manchester City at the turn of the year but although Arteta's side put together an important and impressive seven-match winning streak between mid-February through to early April, the damage had already been done without them knowing.

Manchester City registered heavy wins over Arsenal away and at home in 3-1 and 4-1 victories respectively which helped close the gap and The Gunners will also be conscious of the fact that they managed to pick up just three wins out of their last nine matches of last term.

Nottingham Forest achieved last season's goal of consolidating their place in the English top flight after securing promotion from the Championship in the season before, and although things looked especially tricky for the Tricky Trees for the majority of the season, Steve Cooper's men put together what proved to be a vital four-match unbeaten run at the end of the season to confirm their safety.

Wins against relegated Southampton and Saturday's upcoming opponents, Arsenal, along with picking up points in draws with Chelsea and Crystal Palace proved to be decisive but it's worth noting that both of these aforementioned wins were registered on home soil at the City Ground.

The bigger picture shows Forest managed to win just three of their final 17 league matches though, all three wins being achieved at home, while results away from home were simply woeful.

Nottingham Forest finished last season's campaign with the worst away record in the division as they managed to muster only the one away win all season on their travels whilst being dealt no fewer than 13 defeats in their 19 away games of the campaign, and this sort of form could spell further trouble at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

Arsenal v Nottingham Forest Verdict

Arsenal have won each of the previous four meetings at home on the trot against Nottingham Forest and The Gunners will have ear-marked this opening fixture against Forest as a definite three-pointer.

Therefore, our main bet will be Arsenal win & Both Teams To Score No @ 2.00

Other side bets worth considering:

Arsenal win & Under 3.5 goals @ 2.30

Correct score: Arsenal 2-0 @ 7.50