Alious
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has heightened the stakes for this weekend’s Premier League clash between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, characterizing it as a “cup final” for the Gunners in their pursuit of the title. The match takes on added significance with both teams currently level on points, separated only by goal difference, with Forest sitting in fifth place.
Despite Forest’s impressive unbeaten away record this season and Chris Wood’s remarkable scoring form (14 goals across all competitions, including 11 in his last eight games for club and country), Merson has dismissed the threat posed by the New Zealand striker against Arsenal’s defensive partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. The pundit’s skepticism extends to Forest’s overall form, suggesting their strong start to the season is “wearing off,” pointing to their recent 3-1 defeat to Newcastle United as evidence.
Merson’s analysis paints a dire picture for Arsenal’s title aspirations, arguing that this match represents their “last chance saloon.” He emphasizes that a loss, combined with a Liverpool victory, would create an insurmountable 12-point gap in the title race. However, he remains optimistic about Arsenal’s prospects, predicting their midfield duo of Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey will prove too formidable for Forest.
Looking ahead, Merson envisions this match as the potential starting point of a successful run for Arsenal, predicting victories in their next six or seven fixtures. His forecast of a 3-1 victory for Arsenal sets up an intriguing narrative, particularly given Wood’s current scoring streak and Forest’s resilient away form, which could yet prove Merson’s predictions wrong.
Alious
