Ben White replacement, Oleksandr Zinchenko gamble - Arsenal line ups vs Nottingham Forest

After giving Liverpool a nine point head start, Arsenal are running out of chances to win this Premier League title. Mikel Arteta is getting too despondent just yet though.

"The [margin for error] is much smaller when you see the consistency in terms of results that Liverpool are having," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. "They are making exceptional improvements and results, but we are there. We have played against them and we have seen live where we are in relation to them, so that gives me a lot of confidence."

Deep down though, he'll know that Arsenal need to start winning football matches. The Gunners are without a victory since the start of October and have not beaten top half opposition since winning at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September.

It's crucial that Arteta gets his team selection spot on for the visit of Nottingham Forest. Thankfully for him football.london's Arsenal writers are on hand to help out.

Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal correspondent

Mikel Arteta prayed for no more injuries over the international break. His calls weren't answered.

The lack of Ben White leaves Arsenal slightly hamstrung at the back. With Takehiro Tomiyasu also out, Jurrien Timber has to start. At left back I'm thinking Arsenal need to start controlling games a bit more, so I'm trusting Oleksandr Zinchenko.

In midfield I'm sticking with the them of trying to control this game, so I'm opting for Thomas Partey at the base with Declan Rice slightly further ahead. Martin Odegaard meanwhile is a welcome return.

I think you have to gamble on the fitness of Bukayo Saka on the right wing, while Gabriel Martinelli keeps his place on the left wing for me. Up front I'm going for Kai Havertz.

Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Joe Doyle - Content editor

It's a tough call at the back with not much room to manoeuvre for Arteta. But with the manager confirming that Riccardo Calafiori will be back in the squad, I think he starts at left-back.

He joins the centre-back duo of William Saliba and Gabriel, with Jurrien Timber at right-back - something we're likely to see a lot more of after Ben White's injury. And naturally, David Raya is in goal.

In midfield, I think it's time to start what would be the first-choice trio. Mikel Merino starts alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to give the fans what they've been eagerly anticipating since the summer.

And in attack, there is another issue with both Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard struggling. You're going to have to rest Bukayo Saka at some stage, and I think if he's still not quite right after two weeks of the international break, there's no point throwing him in from the start against Forest.

So Raheem Sterling starts on the right side, with Kai Havertz in the centre and Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank.

Joe's Arsenal XI vs Nottingham Forest: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Sterling, Martinelli, Havertz.

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