Do you have a question? Tell us what you want to know
Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance
What did you make of Arsenal's display?
Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies
Sean Dyche makes one change from Nottingham Forest's last Premier League game with Sangare coming in for Hutchinson.
Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Awoniyi, Luiz, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Savona
Mikel Arteta makes three changes to the Arsenal side that beat Chelsea in midweek. Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus come in on the wings. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard drop to the bench.
Arsenal starting XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Trossard, Merino, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
His midfield team-mate has said the "way his brain works is ridiculous", while his manager has insisted "he can do whatever he wants".
With so much of the focus on Arsenal's need for a striker in the summer, the arrival of midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and his seamless transition into the team since, has gone a little under the radar.
When your partner in the centre of the park is one of the most expensive players in British football history, the spotlight has shone even further away.
According to boss Mikel Arteta, 26-year-old Zubimendi is "very humble" and has already earned the "respect of everyone" at the club, as well as supporters.
It is easy to understand why.
With more than 2,300 minutes under his belt this season, Zubimendi has racked up more time on the pitch than any Gunners outfield player.
As a defensive midfielder, his job is not a glamorous one and yes, he may have pitched in with four goals and an assist so far, but that is not what his team-mates and manager are relying on.
He has quietly gone about his business protecting the defence and providing a link to those further up the field - and it shows.
According to Opta, the Spain international tops the ranks among the Arsenal squad for interceptions (31) and successful passes in the opposition half (782) this term, while he comes second for tackles made (44), possession won (97) and successful passes (1,419).
"He delivers in every aspect of a midfielder's game and he always contributes. That's what sets him apart, what allows him to excel the way he has at Real Sociedad since he came into the first team," Spanish journalist and Real Sociedad expert Roberto Ramajo previously told BBC Sport.
"Martin has very good tactical ability. He knows how to occupy space on the pitch almost perfectly and he reads his team's needs very well when it comes to helping his team-mates."
One of those colleagues to have really felt the difference is Declan Rice.
By taking on more of the load of the so-called "dirty work" in midfield, it has allowed the England international to be more involved in the offensive side of the game.
Rice already has just over half the goal contributions he registered for the whole of last campaign and, thanks to Arsenal still fighting on all four fronts, could top last year's figure of 19.
And when comparing his figures from 2024-25 to this season on a per-game basis (as seen in the table above), it shows how there has been a reduction in the more defensive side of play, while an increase in areas like chances created, successful passes in the opposition half and forward passes.
If Arteta's side do go on to win silverware this season, with added protection for the defence and freedom allowing Rice to go forwards, Zubimendi could in fact prove to be their most pivotal acquisition.
There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Man Utd v Man City (12:30)
Chelsea v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Leeds v Fulham
Liverpool v Burnley
Sunderland v Crystal Palace
Tottenham v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Brentford" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Arsenal", for instance.
Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds
Nottingham Forest are out of the FA Cup, but by far their biggest result last week was their win at relegation rivals West Ham to end a four-game losing streak in the league.
I don't see Sean Dyche's side getting anything here, though. They lost their two previous home games against Manchester City and Everton, and Arsenal will make it a hat-trick of home defeats.
This is the sort of game that Mikel Arteta's side seem to know how to win. It might be close, but I'd still back the Gunners to find a way.
Sutton's prediction: 0-1
Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist
After a potentially pivotal top-flight away win against fellow strugglers West Ham and an FA Cup exit on penalties in Wrexham, Nottingham Forest play at home for the first time in 2026.
Opponents Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions and moved one step closer to the Carabao Cup final in midweek by beating Chelsea in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
Trouble by the Trent
Angry Forest head coach Sean Dyche rebuked his much-changed side for a "completely unacceptable" first-half performance at Wrexham which left them trailing 2-0 before fighting back in vain.
Dyche's withering assessment could just as easily be applied to Forest's home form. Six defeats at the City Ground so far is their joint most after 10 home league matches of a season. They have only once lost seven of their first 11 and that was in 1908.
Forest have already lost and conceded more often at home than in the whole of last season. Nonetheless, the collapse in their home form began as far back as April. Forest have had as many managers as wins - three - in their past 14 home league games, and only West Ham and Spurs have fared worse at home during that time among teams currently in the division.
Arsenal's unsung game changer
League leaders Arsenal are also top of the Champions League table with a flawless record, through to the FA Cup fourth round and will go into their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg early next month with a one-goal advantage over Chelsea.
Arsenal's resilience has been questioned during the past five seasons without a trophy, but summer signing Martin Zubimendi has infused the team with steel and composure. The defensive midfielder's imperious winning goal in midweek brought him rare headlines, even if the plaudits for his performances have been a regular theme.
"He can do whatever he wants," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the Chelsea game. "We just have to keep unlocking that in his brain, because he's so good at occupying different spaces, carrying the ball, dribbling, winning duels and he has a talent when he gets into the final third and into the box. He's so composed, he sees the picture very clearly."
Zubimendi's importance to Arsenal is highlighted by the fact he has made the most starts and played the most minutes of any outfield player at the club. He also leads the way for interceptions, an indicator of his astute reading of the game, while only two central or defensive midfielders in the Premier League have been involved in more passages of open play leading to a shot.
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (kick-off 17:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Arteta did not provide any specific updates on team news and just confirmed he would "need to meet the medical staff and have the training session now to see if somebody is available for the weekend".
The Arsenal boss said he has not seen any doubt from Viktor Gyokeres and praised his attitude: "He is a very demanding person. He knows the level we want and he wants to fulfil the level we expect of him. He has been very consistent. He had a great game against Chelsea and scored to help us win the game."
He added: "What he's done in the last few years, he has set the standard and it's a standard we expect him to maintain. It's part of the expectations, not only for Viktor but every number nine in the league. We expect them to be really good and consistent. That's what he has to try to do."
Arteta insisted they can "only focus on what we can do" when asked about Manchester City playing before them on Saturday, adding their "only focus and aim is to prepare for a very, very tough match and we have to win it".
On the form of his side: "We are building very good momentum. And the belief comes from performances and the level of consistency we have shown already this season. What we did at Stamford Bridge should help us to be very convinced that we have the ability."
Arteta "fully" agrees with Thomas Tuchel's comments on the importance of players needing social skills to make World Cup squad: "It is something that's incredibly necessary and many times undervalued. There are players who do not have impact in terms of minutes but they have the impact in and around the team to bring everybody together and create that atmosphere to support the team. It is critical in my opinion."
He is "very happy" in the "manner that Martin Zubimendi has settled at the club", adding: "He has earned the respect of everyone here very, very quickly and of the supporters. He's very humble, very focused. Incredibly consistent. And on top of that, he has surprised a few people with his ability to attack in the box."
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Listen to full commentary of Nottingham Forest v Arsenal on Saturday from 17:30 GMT on BBC Sounds
Scarlet Katz Roberts
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesYou might call Mikel Arteta a marginal gains merchant, you might call the Emirates Highbury Library.
You might see Arteta's quest to improve the home atmosphere as something of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.
Look, the Emirates doesn't evoke the dizzying rush of Anfield or the kamikaze bear pit of the Stadium of Light, we have our own thing (and an excellent home record).
Arsenal fans appreciate artistry. We respond when coaxed by an act of brilliance. But marginal gains are ever more important when competing against the mismatched resources across the Premier League elite, just ask the 'big six' haters.
It goes without saying that atmosphere can contribute to sporting success - how many points does the fear factor of St James' Park earn Newcastle per season? Sunderland will surely stay up too, in part because of the difficulty teams have faced when playing them away from home. Arteta knows this all too well.
Unstoppable force, immovable object. The Emirates atmosphere in the last few seasons has been… better, particularly compared to those sterile late Wenger years or the briefly painful Emery tenure. Arteta and the powers that be have worked hard on hype videos, crowd displays, light shows - to varying degrees of success.
We recently received the news that Arsenal would be introducing safe standing in the Clock End for use next season, and in the North Bank the following summer. I welcome this! Where I sit, often people get into disputes because some want to stand for the whole match, meaning some have their view obscured. Infighting in the crowd is surely not a marginal gain.
I understand that some people are physically unable or unwilling to stand for long periods, hence the need for designated standing areas - where those who are keen can stand.
One aspect of Tottenham's (sad to say it) impressive stadium project, is the way they've integrated safe standing as one detail among others, shape, pitch, acoustics, to improve atmosphere. Of course, you do need something on the pitch to get excited about. Regardless, Arsenal implementing safe standing is a sign of a club that is inward looking, flexible and willing to try things.
You can hear more from Scarlet at the Goal Difference podcast, external
Chris Collinson
BBC football data analyst
With more than half of the season gone, we have enough stats to get a good idea of how well Premier League teams have been playing and therefore how things will likely unfold in the months ahead.
Expected goals tells us how well teams do the basics of football by creating lots of good chances up front and limiting their opponents to few, difficult ones at the back.
With the figures based on how Premier League teams have performed in the past, history shows that the higher a team's xG difference - the more they dominate games - the more chance they have of success.
So what do the stats tell us? If sides keep performing at around the level they have so far, then it is good news for Arsenal. The team with the highest xG difference has won the Premier League in three of the past four seasons.
The exception was in 2023-24 when Manchester City won the title despite Arsenal having the best underlying numbers.
It is interesting that Arsenal are not dominating games as much as they did two years ago, but City are not the unstoppable force they have been in previous seasons under Pep Guardiola either.
Expected goals is not perfect and there are aspects of football that can never be captured on a spreadsheet, but history shows that it has a great track record for predicting a team's long-term success.
What else does xG predict for the rest of the Premier League season?
Source: Opta
Alex Howell
Football reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesNo team has ever won the Premier League title without having a player in the top 10 goalscorers, but could Arsenal change that?
The Gunners are having an excellent season with only two defeats in all competitions and boasting a 100% record in the Champions League, while they are six points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta's side are also in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup and have progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Those stats are even more impressive when taking into account Arsenal are doing it all without a free-scoring forward.
The lowest ever top goalscorer from a Premier League-winning side is Frank Lampard with 13 when Chelsea lifted the 2004-05 trophy. That was matched by Ilkay Gundogan in Manchester City's 2020-21 title-winning season.
When Arteta was asked about that statistic before Arsenal's last Premier League match against Liverpool, the Gunners boss said: "We want the goals to spread and our strikers scoring over 20 goals, that's the idea."
The Gunners are sharing out the goals and have had 13 different top-flight scorers this season, with only Brighton having more (15).
Arteta was also asked about Viktor Gyokeres not scoring from open play in 10 matches, but the Gunners manager made it clear that the team winning is the priority.
"I'm probably better not to talk too much," he added. "Those players and the quality that they have around them, then they can go and score 10 games in a row.
"The good thing is that the team is performing really well and winning matches and that's what we need."
Read Alex Howell's full analysis of Arsenal's goalscorers here
Image source, Getty ImagesStriker Viktor Gyokeres' performance against Chelsea was "a big step in the right direction", says former Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson.
Gyokeres scored a goal from open play for the first time in 16 games and provided an assist for Martin Zubimendi in the 3-2 win over the Blues on Wednesday night.
The impressive display from the 27-year-old earned him player of the match, and will come as a welcome boost for Gyokeres having struggled to hit the ground running in a Gunners shirt since his summer arrival, scoring just the eight goals in 25 appearances so far.
"Most fans who I speak to want to get behind him. They can see how hardworking he is," Jenkinson told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
"Ultimately a striker is there to score goals. His all-round performance was very good. It's a big step in the right direction for him. That's one of the first times where I have looked at him and thought he is a proper striker.
"If he can stay at that level, I do believe he will keep starting. [Kai] Havertz, in particular, is a really classy player. When he is fully fit, it will be a toss of the coin for me. It's a good problem to have for [Mikel] Arteta."
Arsenal came away winners on the night at Stamford Bridge, but there will be some disappointment among the team and supporters it wasn't a bigger lead to take into the second leg having led by two goals twice.
"Before the game, it was definitely a result that the fans will have taken. It was slightly disappointing we didn't come away with more of a cushion. Any win at Stamford Bridge is a good one, and that is the way you have got to look at it," Jenkinson added.
"Mikel Arteta will be frustrated in the sense that, if you go back to the Emirates with a two or three-goal cushion, you can rest players. Stamford Bridge is a very hard place to go. It's a good result in the grand scheme of things."
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Carabao Cup game between Chelsea and Arsenal.
Here are some of your comments:
Chelsea fans
Nick: Given the huge gulf in quality and experience between the two starting 11s, and the benches, Chelsea did well to keep the margin down to one. It was men v boys, with Chelsea showing great spirit and energy. If James, Gusto, Caicedo, Palmer and Delap are all available for the return leg we have a (slim) chance of getting to the final.
Chris: Sanchez should have stopped two of Arsenal's goals. His distribution again was poor. Chelsea need a new goalkeeper sooner than later or the season will fade away. Kepa showed him how it's done.
Rob: Against Arsenal you have to be physical, we lacked that a bit last night. Having said that, all you can ask for is the will to fight and battle and the team did that. I don't mind losing games if we show spirit and tenacity, something we have been lacking when going behind in games recently. There is still one leg to go and anything can happen when you battle.
Fossie: A decent display despite poor goalkeeping from Sanchez. Some good foundations to build on. Rosenior has a few games to perfect his ideas before the 2nd leg, a one goal deficit can be overcome. Well done Chelsea.
Arsenal fans
Eddie: Impressive attacking display with contributions spread around the team. Too much focus on Sanchez errors, we could have easily scored five if he didn't save a few! Both conceded goals avoidable, but set strongly for the return leg at the Emirates where we haven't lost all season. Hopefully a final beckons!
Chase: We were always on top in this game and to have conceded two felt unnecessary. That said, I'd gladly win like this all the way to May!
Adesile: Taking your chances is the key to an Arsenal picking up silverware this season, if they hadn't convert their chances, the match will be either lost or drawn. Second tie to go though.
Fikre: What a great result for Arsenal! But, it should have been safe for the second leg.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Arsenal defender Matthew Upson, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Gunners striker Viktor Gyokeres' performance in Wednesday's Carabao Cup win at Chelsea:
"I feel for him in a little way because, in terms of what his strengths are, he's not going to get many opportunities to showcase what he likes to do. He's got to adapt and he's got to learn that, he's got to almost be coached that and change the way he's played previously.
"To see him in the second half offer himself up to have that ball into his feet, centrally in the pitch, on the edge of the box and finding a little offload for Zubimendi, for me was a real plus point.
"Centre forwards have made such good careers off those types of movements. Olivier Giroud was one of the best I've seen at that.
"Gyokeres has got to learn that kind of link-up is essential because you're going to dominate the edge of the opposition box all the time and you have to have that in your locker to play for a team like Arsenal.
"You can look at the bullish running and steaming through people, which he did a couple of times - he can cause a bit of havoc, he can have two or three people hanging off him while he's driving with the ball - he draws players to him, so he is effective, but he's got to offer up more and he did that in moments."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
Alex Howell
Arsenal reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThis entertaining victory really highlighted the quality that Mikel Arteta has at his disposal.
The Arsenal manager was able to make eight changes for this game, and bring in his strongest XI, after making 10 changes for Sunday's FA Cup third-round win at Portsmouth.
One of those players who stayed in the side was Ben White, and he started in a back four of William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber.
That backline provided an imposing threat from set-pieces and White's opener was the 24th goal Arsenal have scored from a set-piece in all competitions this season, the most by any club in Europe's top five leagues.
It was also a good night for Viktor Gyokeres, who scored a goal from open play for the first time in 16 games and provided an assist for Martin Zubimendi's goal. Arteta will hope that it is the confidence boost his forward needs.
The EFL Cup is not Arteta's or Arsenal's main objective this season but getting in a position to win a trophy relatively early would be a huge boost as they try to win the Premier League or Champions League.
Arteta said before the game that an EFL Cup triumph would give his team "a nudge" and "a sense that the objective is really close", providing "a massive motivation for everybody".
There's still another leg to go in this tie but this was the first individual semi-final match that Arsenal have won in nine attempts and marks another step in the progression they have made this season.
Image source, Getty ImagesMikel Arteta spoke to beIN Sports after Arsenal's victory against Chelsea: "It's half-time [in the tie]. We played against a really good side at a really difficult place. I'm very proud of what the team has done.
"You want to start to play semi-finals and all the work you've done throughout the season to get to these stages to deliver on the day and we've certainly done that.
"What we're doing every three days is impressive."
On having more options up front now Kai Havertz is back: "It raises the level and we need them. They're going to be so important. There's going to be minutes for everybody with the amount of games we have, so happy to have them."
Ben White spoke to Sky Sports: "We didn't play very well in the second half and let them give us more pressure. That's how we conceded the goals. Not up to our standards really. It's a bit disappointing, the second half, but a win."
Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Chelsea's performance
What did you make of Arsenal's display?
Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies
Liam Rosenior has named his team for his first game in charge at Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer and Reece James are not involved and there is no Moises Caicedo because of suspension. Marc Cucurella starts.
Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez, Acheampong, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Fernandez, Estevao, Joao Pedro, Neto, Guiu.
Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, George, Tosin, Hato, Essugo, Mheuka, Buonanotte, Garnacho.
Mikel Arteta turns to his strongest XI and makes eight changes to the team that played at Portsmouth. The Gunners show their strength in depth and are able to name a bench packed with talent.
Arsenal starting XI: Arrizabalaga, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.
Subs: Raya, Jesus, Eze, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Merino, Havertz, Lewis-Skelly.
