“They have lost control of so many games recently” – Chris Sutton makes interesting prediction about Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

Football pundit Chris Sutton has made an intriguing prediction for the Arsenal and Nottingham Forest EPL clash based on both teams' recent performances. He predicted that the game at the City Ground on May 20th would end in a 1-1 draw.

As Arsenal's title hopes crumbled with their defeat against Brighton last week, questions arise regarding their ability to bounce back and demonstrate authority on the pitch. Sutton highlights the Gunners' recent struggles in maintaining control during games, a trait they seemed to possess earlier in the season.

Giving his prediction for BBC's weekly EPL roundup, Sutton said:

''Arsenal have been fading for a while, but last week's defeat by Brighton meant their title hopes have gone. This is one of those games where you might expect the Gunners will really bounce back and show great authority but the longer the season has gone on, the less we have seen them do that.''

''They have lost control of so many games recently. Earlier in the season, Mikel Arteta's side dictated the play and played at their own pace, but they seem to have lost the ability to do that.''

With Nottingham Forest fighting to secure their own fate, Sutton expects them to put up a fierce fight without needing to abandon caution.

''Because of Nottingham Forest's position, you know that they are going to really scrap for everything without having to throw caution to the wind, because their fate is in their own hands. At home is where it happens for them and while I don't think it will be a particularly pretty game, I can see Forest finding a way of picking up another point.''

This prediction comes at a crucial time for Arsenal, who had led the EPL title race since the start of the season but have stumbled in recent weeks. The defeat to Brighton dealt a significant blow to their aspirations, allowing Manchester City to take advantage. The current league leaders sit four points clear of the Gunners and still have a match in hand, placing them in a formidable position.

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Arsenal set to make opening move for Declan Rice in summer transfer window

Arsenal is gearing up to make their opening proposal for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, who remains their priority target for the upcoming summer transfer window.

According to renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal could potentially secure the signings of two midfielders, depending on the outgoings of the squad. However, out of respect for West Ham, negotiations will not take place at present but are scheduled to commence in June.

Rice's impressive performances for both club and country have caught the attention of Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are eager to add his talent and versatility to their ranks as they plan for the future. Rice has eight goal contributions in 47 games for West Ham United this season.