Sangare for Schlager, Aina keeps spot - Nottingham Forest predicted XI v Arsenal

Arsenal have lost just once so far this season as they bid to defend their crown. Brighton & Hove Albion provided the only blot on the Gunners’ otherwise perfect copybook when they triumphed 3-0 over Mikel Arteta’s side prior to the international break.

The challenge for the Reds is to do likewise on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off). Where the Seagulls dared to interrupt the reigning champions’ winning streak, Glasner’s men need to do the same - and in doing so spark their own season and their own home form into life.

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The decision facing the Forest boss concerns whether to take a scalpel to a team that played well against Crystal Palace last weekend but somehow still finished on the wrong side of a 3-1 defeat. A miserable return to his former club for Glasner came on the back of a 1-0 reverse to Coventry City before the pause in domestic action, leaving the Austrian with a few issues to address.

Missed chances cost the visitors in the capital, in an extreme example of how goals remain difficult to come by. Nowhere is that problem more apparent than at the City Ground, where the Reds are yet to score in four outings in all competitions this term.

Glasner said he was encouraged by the number of openings his side created against Palace; they just couldn’t find the finish to capitalise on them. Should he stick with the players who applied so much pressure last weekend or freshen things up?

Summer signing Liam Delap was below-par at Selhurst Park and was guilty of a particularly big miss from close range. Glasner could turn to Chris Wood and task the New Zealander with trying to hold the ball up on Sunday, but it would be something of a surprise if he does.

Dropping Delap would do little for his confidence. The former Chelsea striker has already shown what he is capable of with his goal against Aston Villa. He might need an arm around him and a boost of confidence after being hooked with 20 minutes to go last weekend, but he shouldn’t be written off just yet. Moreover, Wood squandered a golden opportunity himself in the closing minutes.

Igor Jesus being sidelined takes away one attacking option for Glasner. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Arnaud Kalimuendo will be pushing for minutes after their cameo appearances in south London, but Dan Ndoye will surely keep his place as partner for Morgan Gibbs-White. The Switzerland international still needs to find some consistency but had his best game in a Forest shirt last time out.

It might be Glasner considers making a change in midfield, however. Xaver Schlager was replaced in the 66th minute against Palace, with Ibrahim Sangare brought on to add a bit of stability in the centre of the pitch.

Schlager and James McAtee have generally fared well as a partnership but last weekend was more of a struggle. Might Sangare come in from the start on Sunday, to try to help shield the defence?

The back line itself might also be the subject of a reshuffle. There is a question mark over whether Nikola Milenkovic will have recovered from the bone bruising that sidelined for the trip south, but Jair Cunha could always come in regardless.

The focus after the final whistle at Palace was on the Reds’ wastefulness up front, but the three goals conceded illustrated there is also work to do at the back. Finding the right combination will be key.

If Milenkovic is available, he could take the place of Ousmane Diomande as the central lynchpin. In that case, Diomande could operate on the right - or Ola Aina could retain his spot, or Jair could come in. The latter could start regardless of Milenkovic’s fitness, perhaps replacing Aina in the XI, although the Nigerian’s experience could count in his favour.

Forest predicted XI: Sels; Aina, Diomande, Murillo; Munoz, Sangare, McAtee, Williams; Gibbs-White, Ndoye; Delap.

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