Nottingham Forest will make a late call on whether Lewis O’Brien is fit to face Arsenal on Sunday.
The midfielder has missed the Reds’ last three games due to illness, but was in the stands at the City Ground last weekend to watch his teammates topple Liverpool. And he has returned to training this week, ahead of the trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Head coach Steve Cooper had spoken about how the illness had “really knocked” O’Brien back. He has made progress, though, and Forest will give the summer signing every chance to get the green light to face the Gunners.
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Cooper's charge
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has spoken about the challenges managers face in trying to control their emotions during and after games.
The Welshman has been charged by the Football Association for alleged “improper conduct”, following comments about referee Thomas Bramall after the Reds’ 1-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month. He had until yesterday to provide a response.
Cooper said there was “not much” he could say about the charge, and did not specify whether he had accepted it. But he did admit it can sometimes be tough to keep feelings in check, in what is an incredibly high-pressured environment.
“I will talk when I can. But at the moment it is just going through the process, so I am not thinking too much about it. I am more focused on the game,” he said, ahead of Sunday’s trip to face Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Friendly talks
Nottingham Forest are said to be in talks with Athletic Bilbao over arranging a friendly during the World Cup break.
The Reds have four more fixtures to play before the season pauses for the tournament in Qatar. The campaign will be on hold for a little more than six weeks, resuming after Christmas.
According to Spanish newspaper El Correo, Athletic are trying to “negotiate” playing a match with Forest during that time. It is said the club “maintains open contacts” with the Reds, and if a game does get the go-ahead it would likely take place in the UK.
Steve Cooper’s side have three Premier League fixtures before the break. They head to Arsenal on Sunday, then host Brentford and Crystal Palace, with a Carabao Cup tie at home to Tottenham Hotspur sandwiched between.
Opposition verdict
Boss Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal need to “reset” before facing Nottingham Forest on Sunday, following Thursday night’s Europa League defeat.
The Reds make the trip to the Emirates Stadium buoyed by victory over Liverpool last time out. Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal amid an electric atmosphere at the City Ground ended a run of nine Premier League games without a win for Steve Cooper’s side.
Their next challenge is taking on the league leaders, who lost for just the second time this season on Thursday night. Arteta pointed to “worrying” aspects of his team’s display as they fell 2-0 away to PSV Eindhoven, and that leaves him with plenty to mull over going into the match against Forest.
The Gunners need to beat FC Zurich next Thursday to clinch top spot in their Europa League group and passage to the last 16 of the competition. But their manager says his focus is now on Cooper’s men.
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