Tricky trees, tricky game. This is the team Arteta should select

By Danong 

After a comfortable 3-0 win over Lille in the Champions League, which preserved their 100 per cent record in the competition, the Gunners now return to the Premier League to continue their title defence.

They do so with a trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal's last few visits there ended in draws. This time, however, a stalemate will not do, not if the Gunners want to stop City extending their lead at the top.

Heading into this weekend's fixtures, the Cityzens held a three-point advantage, so the plan is simple: avoid dropping points and deny City any further breathing room.

That said, Forest are opponents Arsenal should beat comfortably. The Tricky Trees are yet to find their form under Oliver Glasner, collecting just five points from six games. Mikel Arteta and his side should therefore exploit that and punish them with a vital win.

Arteta can play his part by fielding a formidable line-up, but first he must settle three selection dilemmas. Does Bruno Guimaraes or Myles Lewis-Skelly start in midfield? Does Jurrien Timber or Ben White get the nod at right-back? And does Eberechi Eze start ahead of Noni Madueke on the left wing?

With Forest expected to defend compactly, Arsenal's team selection could prove crucial to breaking them down. If I were Arteta, this is how I would approach it.

I would go with Eze on the left wing. Forest will roll out a low block, and Arsenal will need his creativity to break it down.

At right-back, I would rest Timber and start White to manage the Dutchman's workload.

In midfield, meanwhile, I would pick Guimaraes over Lewis-Skelly. The Brazilian is a low-block dismantler, and Arsenal need to be more progressive and vertical from the first whistle. He offers exactly that.

That means Arsenal should line up:

Raya

White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori

Guimaraes, Rice, Odegaard

Saka, Havertz, Eze

It is a formidable line-up, and one that should take care of business on Sunday evening.