Premier League: Arsenal and Forest clash, Liverpool host Newcastle

From Manchester City aiming to avoid unwanted history against Spurs to Liverpool continuing their march toward the Premier League title, Gulf News breaks down the key storylines heading into Wednesday’s Premier League action.

Nottingham Forest face a stern challenge as they host Arsenal, with both sides looking to bounce back from recent setbacks. Forest, once solid in their pursuit of a top-four finish, have seen their form falter, losing three of their last four Premier League outings.

This dip has left them clinging to fourth place, just three points clear of the chasing pack, and facing a crucial test against the Gunners.

While Forest boast an impressive home record, winning six of their last seven at the City Ground, their history against Arsenal doesn’t inspire confidence. The Tricky Trees have lost seven of their last eight league meetings with the Gunners, with their only recent victory coming in May 2023.

A repeat of last season’s 2-1 defeat in this fixture would add to the pressure on Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, who have struggled in midweek Premier League games, failing to win seven of their last nine played on a Wednesday.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are reeling from a 1-0 defeat to West Ham that effectively ended their title hopes. Injuries and a lack of attacking edge have hampered Mikel Arteta’s side, but they’ll look to avoid consecutive league losses for the first time since December 2023.

Their record under the lights is formidable, with 12 wins from their last 13 evening kick-offs, and they’ll hope to keep their slim chances of closing the gap at the top alive.

Tottenham Hotspur welcome Manchester City this week aiming to build on their stunning 4-0 win in the reverse fixture - a result that remains one of the standout shocks of the season.

Spurs have already beaten City twice this campaign, including a 2-1 triumph in the EFL Cup, and are now targeting a rare league double over the reigning champions, something they last achieved in 2021-22. The North London side hasn’t beaten City three times in a single season since 1984-85, but confidence is high after three consecutive Premier League victories.

Spurs’ resurgence under Ange Postecoglou has quieted doubts following their mid-season struggles. A convincing 4-1 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday marked their third straight league win, with stand-in defenders proving resilient during an injury crisis. Despite missing key players like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Tottenham have conceded just once in February, suggesting their makeshift backline can hold firm.

For Manchester City, the stakes are high. Pep Guardiola’s side, out of the title race and with the FA Cup their only realistic shot at silverware, must focus on securing a top-four finish. However, their inconsistent away form has been a concern, with just five wins from 13 Premier League road games this season. City’s record against stronger opposition has been particularly troubling, and Guardiola will demand a response after their 2-0 loss to Liverpool last weekend.

Liverpool welcome Newcastle United to Anfield this week as they continue their march toward a second Premier League title.

With a commanding 11-point lead over second-placed Arsenal, Arne Slot’s side have been relentless in their pursuit of domestic dominance. Their latest statement came with a clinical 2-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad, further cementing their status as the league's most formidable force.

The Reds now return to Anfield, where they’ve been nearly unstoppable. Liverpool have won their last 12 midweek home Premier League matches, scoring 35 goals and conceding just six. Anfield has become a fortress, with the team scoring at least twice in their last 17 home games.

History also favours them in this fixture—Liverpool are unbeaten in 28 Premier League encounters against Newcastle at Anfield, with 23 wins and five draws since 1994.

Newcastle arrive on the back of a thrilling 4-3 victory over Nottingham Forest, but inconsistency has plagued Eddie Howe’s side, who have lost three of their last five league matches. Their record against league leaders offers little encouragement either, having failed to win any of their last 20 away games against the team at the summit (D5, L15).

With Liverpool in imperious form and Newcastle’s struggles against top opposition, another dominant performance from the league leaders seems likely.