Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Arsenal lead Nottingham Forest 1-0 and Aston Villa trail Newcastle 2-0

Not what I was expecting from this game! Luton are leading Brighton by four goals. Their fouth goal came from Adebayo – his third of the game.

Arsenal have extended their lead through Saka. But, it came from a mistake from Montiel. The Forest defender tried to clear the ball but gave it straight back to the Gunners. They shipped it out wide to Jesus, he drove down the flank before slipping in Saka at the back post. He then slotted it home to make it 2-0.

Arsenal have finally broken the deadlock and it was Jesus who found the back of the net! It came after the Gunners took a quick throw-in on the left-hand-side. The ball was played to Jesus, who ran along the back line and slipped it through Turner’s legs from an impossible angle.

Fabian Schar found the back of the net for a second time! Anthony Gordon’s shot hit the cross bar and fell into the path of Schar. He reacted well and slotted it home.

Newcastle take the lead! The ball is played in and Ollie Watkins is nowhere near! As a result, Fabian Schär was able to get in and poke it home.

Lovely steal from Williams on the right-hand-side. He’s just dispossessed his opposite number, drove towards the box and squared it to Dominguez running in. However, it was a little too far ahead of Dominguez… meaning Arsenal could clear the danger with ease.

What a chance from Arsenal. Saka picked up the ball on the right-hand-side, drove into the box and laid off Odegaard. He took a touch to commit his defender and then backheeled it to Jesus. Jesus took the ball in his stride and fired off a shot. However, Turner was quick off his line, making the goal small. As a result, he was able to get a hand to it.

Crystal Palace were through when Michael Olise was taken down by Auston Trusty. Certainly a tactical foul and one his team-mates will taken him for… but frustrating for Palace.

Chance for Saka but a fantastic save from Turner denies the Arsenal super star. Saka was delivered the ball on the right-hand-side and tried to shoot – firing the ball towards the back post. However, Turner did well to get across the goal and make the save.

Arsenal frustrations in the first half can be hlighighted by the fact they have 81 per cent possession but just one shot on target! They’ll need more than that in the second half…

Nottingham Forest and Arsenal are back underway. Arsenal will be looking to break through their opponents press and create Turner more porblems in the second half. Meanwhile, Forest will be eager to get a great foothold in the game.

Another little update for you! Luton have gone 3-0 up against Brighton thanks to Elijah Adebayo, who timed his run perfectly to pick up the ball, drive into the box and slip it past the keeper at the near post.

This is crazy!! There have been four goals in 27 minutes. What a game so far. Crystal Palace’s second goal came from Eze (again!).

He took the ball on the half-turn, beat his player and fired it into the top right-hand corner from I’d say… 20 yards out! Love to see it.

What a game this is turning out to be?! Oliver McBurnie won the ball in the middle of the pitch, skipped past two defenders and played in James McAtee.

McAtee did well to get a shot off but it was a little fortunate as it deflected off Marc Guéhi to fly into the back of the net.

Excellent stuff from Eberechi Eze. No idea how he managed that… but he just tapped in Michael Olise cross, getting his leg higher than I thought possible to do so!

There goes the half time whistle! Arsenal will be frustrated to have not scored during the first half but Forest were defensively solid.

It looks as though Mikel Arteta will have a lot to say during the half-time break as he was seen sprinting off down the tunnel as soon as the whistle went!

Chance for Saka! The England international played the ball to Zinchenko at the edge of the box. Zinchenko rounded his player and fired it in towards the penalty spot.

The ball rebounded off one of the Forest defenders and fell into Saka’s path. He reacted well and got a shot off but thankfully for Forest it was blocked.

It’s to be expected but… Rice is a little off the pace. He failed to win his 50/50 in the middle of the pitch, leading to Danilo’s opportunity just a moment ago. That being said, he’s just as confident as usual in possession.

CHANCE FOR FOREST! Danilo came close to giving Forest to advantage after winning the ball in the middle of the pitch, driving forwards and unleashing a rocket from outside the box. However, flew just over the bar.

What is going on this evening?! Ben Brereton Diaz has given Sheffield United a shock lead after just 20 SECONDS!

Gustavo Hamer broke forwards, played it out wide to Brereton Diaz. He then cut inside and curled it into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Play is back under way. Montiel is waiting to come back on as Arsenal swing the ball around the back. Forest fans are not happy, they’re making their feelings known!

Nottingham Forest defender Montiel has gone down injured after an incident with Omobamidele. Arsenal crossed the ball into the box, Omobamidele went to clear it but ended up kicking his team-mate in the process.

Arsenal are dominating possession but they are struggling to penerate at the moment. I think they’d benefit from higher ball pace personally… Forest are finding it pretty easy to contain them!

Excellent work rate from Smith Rowe. He’s not only injecting pace into the game when on the ball, he’s also doing the legs off the ball. Would like to see him given more service.

Nottingham Forest call for a penalty after Gibbs-White broke into the box and looked to scoop the ball over Declan Rice, clipping him on the arm. However, the ref waved for play to continue.

Arsenal earn themselves a free-kick on the left-hand-side of the pitch. Odegaard steps over it and curls the ball into the box. However, Turner did well to get off his line and punch is clear.

The game is being controlled by the passing and the movement from Arsenal. But, Forest look dangerous on the break. Arsenal cannot get caught slacking.

Zinchenko’s balls to Martinelli have been superb this evening. He has been the catalyst for all of Arsenal’s most threatening attacks this evening.

Arsenal are continuing to dominate possession. Some lovely footwork from Martinelli saw him skip past Montiel and drive towards the box. He unleashed a rocket towards goal but Murillo did well to make the block.

You just can’t write it! What an unbelievable start from Luton… 2-0 up in the opening three minutes of their fixture.

A dream start for Luton! Straight from kick off, Luton launched an attack and Elijah Adebayo headed it in.

Nuno is NOT happy with his side’s turnover rate. He can be seen shouting at his players from the sideline, having watched them win the ball and give it straight back about four times in the last five minutes.

CHANCE FOR ARSENAL! Lovely passage of play, starting with Zinchenko. He played it out wide to Martinelli and bolted forwards.

Martinelli gave it back to him. Zinchenko then slipped it through to Smith Rowe, who tried to cross it Gabriel Jesus. However, his effort was deflected over the bar.

Forest are turning the ball over well around their own box. But, they are guilty of giving it straight back to the Gunners. They need to build-up possession.

Arsenal earn their first corner of the game. It was played deep towards the back post. Turner did well to come off his line and punch it clear. Wasted opportunity for the Gunners.

Arsenal favouring the left-hand-side of the pitch at the moment. However, Zinchenko is struggling to connect with those ahead of him. A lot of lateral passing at the moment…

Saka takes off on his first run down the right-hand-side. He covered a lot of ground quickly but ended up laying off the ball to Odegaard. Nothing too exciting but showing what he’s capable of.

Danilo is doing well to pick up the ball in the pockets, turn and drive at the Arsenal midfielders. They’ll need more of that if they want to penerate the press.

A slip from Mangala gave Arsenal the chance to break into the box. It was Rice who latched onto the ball after Mangala went down. He looked to slip Smith Rowe in but put a little too much on the pass.

Arsenal are looking to work the ball around the back before breaking down the flanks. The majority of their success seems to be coming from Jesus and Martinelli down the left-hand-side.

Arsenal are enjoying the early possession, swinging the ball around the back, playing in and out of the pockets. Forest are doing well to keep their structure in the press and limit the space through the middle.

And… just like that, we are underway. It is Arsenal who kick off the proceedings this evening. It’s a big night for both sides… I am looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.

The players are out on the pitch at the City ground. We are just moments away from the action. Make sure you stay tuned for all the latest updates!

Yeah, this ground, you have to come and you have to play with a lot of personality. You have to impose yourself and you have to be really present and dominant. And this is what we’re going to try to do tonight.

Yeah, we have two different periods, one in Dubai and then a break between the Palace game and today to work on a lot of concepts, to recharge, to set some objectives as well. And we feel like we are really good, prepared for the game. It’s going to be a tough one. We already experienced in the last two seasons how tough is to win here, so we better be our best.

I’m glad to see Emile Smith Rowe back and I believe he has something to offer Arsenal. Long term he has something offer. I think he will make the difference.

Definitely. That’s the idea. Because we believe that we have talent now. It’s about getting the team organised, compact and trying to keep clean sheets but going forward. That has to be our motivation.

We’re aware of the situation. For now, if I’m honest, it’s not part of our day. We don’t speak about it. So, what we’ve decided to try and ignore it and focus on what we have to do, knowing when the moment comes, the decision, we have to face it. But honestly, I think we cannot get distracted. There are people in the club taking care of that. Our job is to play.

Arsenal will move to within two points of Liverpool if they emerge victorious this evening. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side will have the chance to move five points ahead again tomorrow night, when they face Chelsea.

As it stands, Sheffield United have scored fewer (17) and conceded more (51) Premier League goals than any other side this season.

Eni Aluko is returning to our screens tonight to analyse the Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal game.

The TNT pundit was seen putting on a brave face as she mic’d up following Joey Barton’s recent comments.

Aluko, who recently travelled to the Ivory Coast to work at the Africa Cup of Nations, said she had been ‘scared’ to leave her house following Barton’s tirades.

Luton have lost just one of their past 14 home league games against Brighton, although… it was the last time they hosted them in April 2008 – in League One.

Sheff Utd XI: Grbic, Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson,Trusty, Hamer, Souza, McAtee, Slimane, McBurnie, Brereton Diaz

Subs: Foderingham, Archer, Norwood, Osborn, Larouci, Osula, Norrington-Davies, Brooks, Seriki

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Lerma, Eze, Olise, Ayew, Mateta

Subs: Johnstone, Tomkins, Franca, Schlupp, Clyne, Edouard, Ahamada, Riedewald, Ozoh

Aston Villa could go 18 home league matches unbeaten for the first time since the 1976-77 season if they avoid defeat to Newcastle. Their most recent league defeat at Villa Park came against Arsenal last February.

We know what they’re capable to do, they will demand a very good night from ourselves because we need to win the game.

Everton’s reaction (after their points deduction) was impressive. It’s always tricky when you play a Sean Dyche team. They are a difficult team to beat and play against.

For me it is clear that in all moments of the game it can become physical in all the challenges and the duels and they are able to build and create chances as well. They are a solid side.

Everton away from home have been one of the stronger sides. We know they are a dangerous side, we know what they are capable to do.

Brighton XI: Steele, Dunk, Van Hecke, Julio, Milner, Gross, Gilmour, Estupinan, Buonanotte, Welbeck, Joao Pedro

SubsVerbruggen, Lamptey, Webster, Lallana, Moder, Baleba, Ferguson, Hinshelwood, Baker-Boaitey

Luton XI: Kaminski, Burke, Osho, Bell, Ogbene, Sambi Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty, Clark, Adebayo, Morris

SubsKrul, Potts, Berry, Woodrow, Chong, Mpanzu, Townsend, Johnson, Nelson

Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Tosin, Diop, Robinson, Palhinha, Cairney, De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, Jimenez

Subs Rodak, Tete, Reed, Ream, Muniz, Lukic, Vinicius, Francois, Sekularac.

Everton XI: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Young, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Danjuma, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs Virginia, Lonergan, Patterson, Keane, Beto, Chermiti, Hunt, Dobbin, Metcalfe.

Arsenal have scored the most goals from set-pieces in the Premier League (13, excluding penalties), the most from corners (10) and the most headed goals (10).

Meanwhile, Forest have conceded the highest number of goals from set pieces (11), and only Brentford (11) have conceded more from headers (9).

Chris Wood has been involved in six goals in his last four Premier League appearances (5 goals, 1 assist).

Wood is averaging a league goal every 72 minutes under Nuno, converting 50 per cent of his shots.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s four league games in charge of Forest have produced a total of 17 goals, an average of 4.3 per game.

That is almost two goals per game more than his time at Wolves (2.4) and Tottenham Hotspur (2.5).

Nottingham Forest XI: Turner, Montiel, Omobamidele, Murillo, Toffolo, Mangala, Danilo, Williams, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Wood.

Subs: Hennessey, Vlachodimos, Worrall, Awoniyi, Hudson-Odoi, Felipe, Elanga, Yates, Aguilera.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Smith Rowe, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus

Subs: Ramsdale, Cedric, Walters, Kiwior, Jorginho, Havertz, Nelson, Trossard, Nketiah

Arsenal are winless in their last three away league games. They’ve not had a longer run under Arteta since his first six games in charge. That was between December 2019 and June 2020.

No team have kept more Premier League clean sheets than Arsenal this season (8). However, the Gunners are looking to record a shutout in consecutive league games for just the second time this campaign.

Since their return to the Premier League last season, Forest have dropped 46 points from winning positions, at least 11 more than any other side.

It will be a difficult one. Arsenal are one of the best teams around and we know the quality of their players and their manager. What we rely on is the atmosphere at the City Ground. We know it’s always important to get this energy from our crowd and go for the game.

We have got some late decisions to make. Thomas won’t be one of those, but we have a few that obviously had some issues at the end of the last game and we are still uncertain with a few players.

Thomas is not in the squad… it is what it is. You want everybody available and he is a top player for us, a really important player for us. But at the moment he is not fit yet. We will see (if he is back for Liverpool). We will see how things evolve and if that’s too short or if he’s okay.

(Rice) is one of the players (facing a late decision), yes. He has done some work, but he has missed some work as well. But hopefully he is going to be okay. (Gabriel is) another one.

Mikel Arteta has no plans to leave Arsenal this summer, despite a sensational report in Spain claiming he could walk away at the end of the season.

Sport, a publication based in Catalonia, have claimed that Arteta has told those close to him that he is considering stepping away from his post early.

Sources close to Arsenal have adamantly denied that there is any truth in the Catalan press reports, however, with Arteta committed to managing the Gunners.

It was at the City ground that Arsenal’s title hopes were crushed last season. They suffered a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, confirming Manchester City as the champions.

Just over two years ago Mikel Arteta was caught on camera criciticising his players during Amazon’s fly-on-the-wall documentary.

The Arsenal manager was furious with his side’s performance in their FA Cup clash and vented his frustration after the Gunners were knocked out of the competition.

Nuno Tavares will be sitting this evening’s fixture out as he is ineligible to face his parent club. Forest will also be without Cheikhou Kouyate, Moussa Niakhate, Ola Aina, Ibrahim Sangare, Serge Aurier and Willy Boly as they have reached the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, Anthony Elanga, Taiwo Awoniyi and Felipe have all returned to first team training and could feature tonight after recovering from their various injuries.

Good news for Mikel Arteta as Thomas Partey has returned to full first-team training after struggling with a thigh injury. However, the Gunners boss will be reluctant to rush him back into the squad.

Declan Rice – who came off against Palace with tightness in his hamstring – is expected to be fit for this evening’s fixture. The same can be said to Gabriel.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Martinelli will be hoping for a place in the starting XI after scoring twice when coming off the bench against Crystal Palace.

So, stay tuned as there is lots to come!