Nottingham | Ange Postecoglou returns to North London this weekend

Arsenal v Nottingham Forest Preview

You could say the script for this match has already been written as Ange Postecoglou's Nottingham Forest travel North London to face Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

Author | Frank L

Stadium | Emirates Stadium

When the two sides faced each other in November 2024

The Garibaldi are gearing up for their first assignment under the former Tottenham Hotspur head coach, while the Gunners look to recover from a defeat against Liverpool before the international week.

Welcome to Angeball

From one former Tottenham manager to another, Nottingham Forest’s turbulent start to the season has ended with the inevitable departure of Nuno Espírito Santo and the swift arrival of Europa League winner Ange Postecoglou earlier this week.

Nuno’s relationship with the club hierarchy had broken down, reportedly linked to a personal rift with Forest’s head of global football, Edu, the former Arsenal sporting director. Owner Evangelos Marinakis responded by turning to a coach with proven pedigree, albeit one whose approach to the game is strikingly different to his predecessor.

Where Nuno’s Forest had been built on defensive organisation and counterattacking efficiency, Postecoglou’s Tottenham were defined by high-risk defending and a relentless attacking style, even if their narrow Europa League victories over Eintracht Frankfurt and Manchester United suggested a more pragmatic edge.

The question now is whether the Australian will impose his philosophy immediately. He inherits a side with only four points from nine matches, their last outing a dismal 3-0 defeat at home to a previously struggling West Ham. That result extended Forest’s run to 11 Premier League games without a clean sheet, and they have not kept one away from home in the competition since early January. Tellingly, each of their last eight league fixtures on the road has seen both teams find the net.

Michael, a Forest fan, is excited about the new manager. He said: “We have got some good players and the signings made in this summer transfer window are just made for the new manager. Arsenal away is almost the perfect first game. Start as we mean to go on.”