Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest should be a good game. I?m actually watching it in the Midwest with an English Forest fan. So should be fun.
For Arsenal, it?s a return to no-drama business. The pain of December needs to be truly laid to rest with another clinical afternoon in front of goal. My Forest friend said the issue they have in the midlands is their defence is not very good, and sadly, Matty Turner is a bit of a basket case in goal so far this season.
Arsenal players will know the weakness of their ex-teammate, and I really hope they take a moment to rip off some nice early strikes. The team also needs to test his passing early. He?s uncomfortable with the ball at his feet, he hates being pressed, and his big problem is he let Ramsdale affect him because ambition kicking is part of his game but without the talent of the Englishman. Word is starting to creep out that Thomas Partey is in the mixer for the squad this game, extra helpful now Ghana is out, so there should be no drama putting him in the squad for Forest. Remember who told you that on Monday.
Thomas Partey returning to the fold gives me a lot of hope. Letting an international team with short-term objectives on the line was always a recipe for receiving the player back in a broken state? a bit like Mo Sarah. Recriminations abound regarding the severity of his injury at AFCON.
The most important thing Arteta can do with Thomas is look after him. He?s injury-prone, but he?s very good. We don?t need him training ...