Our prediction for this FA Cup match:
A spot in the FA Cup round 4 will be at stake when Nottingham Forest and Arsenal square off against each other at the City Ground on Sunday. The Reds were on a three-game winning run in December, but they head into the match following back-to-back losses to Middlesbrough and Huddersfield. All Alex Mighten, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Max Lowe, and Loic Mbe Soh are out of contention with injuries for the home team.
The Gunners, on the other hand, were more than unfortunate not to grab something from the Manchester City game. Mikel Arteta’s troops have slim chances of winning the Premier League title; therefore, we are positive that they will go all guns blazing at Forest. Even though all Aubameyang, Elneny, Pepe, and Partey are on international duty, we are tempted to put our money on the capital club. The opposition defenders should have Martinelli at bay as he impressed in the 2-1 loss to Man City.
Highlighted Player (Jack Colback):
After spending nine years at Sunderland youth academy, Jack Colback signed a loan deal with Ipswich Town on 6 August, 2009. The left-footed midfielder, who is capable of playing at left back as well, made 37 appearances for the Championship side, scoring four goals in the English second tier.
Against all odds, Colback decided to sign for Sunderland’s bitterest rivals Newcastle United on 9 June, 2014 and it has to be noted he became the first player to move directly from Sunderland to Newcastle since 1998 when Lionel Perez did the same. In 2015 Sunderland fans created a sick banner depicting Colback hanging with a noose around his neck and that caused uproar on social media.
Colback and his teammates from Newcastle dropped to the Championship at the end of the 2015/2016 season, but he decided not to leave the club. Colback scored 5 goals in 64 appearances for Newcastle United in the Premier League. He is well known for his passing skills, he rarely gives the ball away and journalist often compare him with Italy ace Andrea Pirlo.
Highlighted Team (Arsenal):
Arsenal are regarded as one of the best English teams. The Gunners have won 12 FA Cup trophies, 13 league titles and two League Cups, but they have yet to lift the Champions League trophy. Arsene Wenger’s team were on the verge of beating Barcelona in the Champions League final back in 2006, but they eventually failed to win the prestigious title.
Arsenal used to play their homes at Highbury, but in 2006 they moved to the Emirates Stadium. The capacity of the stadium is 60,260. The Gunners won their last Premier League trophy back in 2004, with the capital club going through the season without a single loss. The likes of Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp and Robert Pires were part of the team back then, but Arsenal have not won the league trophy ever since.
Arsenal was founded by Woolwich munitions workers as Dial Square back in 1886. It is well known that Tottenham Hotspur are Arsenal’s fiercest rivals and there have always been fireworks when the two local rivals meet in the North London derby.