Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal Prediction: Gunners to March On

• Arsenal are in pole position to win the Premier League title after 22 years of waiting

• Nottingham Forest could still be relegated, so they must stay focused on their task

• Arsenal are likely to prove too strong for Nottingham Forest this weekend

Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal Odds

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My +350 Pick for Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal 

Back a draw at half-time and an Arsenal victory at full-time. Nottingham Forest might be able to hold the Gunners for 45 minutes, but they will struggle to do so for the full 90.

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Arsenal Can Only Be Beaten by Themselves in Title Race

Arsenal are exactly where they want to be in the middle of January. A six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table makes them clear favorites to win the title. Arsenal are also at the summit of the standings in the Champions League, while they are one of only four teams still standing in the EFL Cup. This could be a glorious campaign for Mikel Arteta's men.

Arsenal must not think like that, though. It is vital that they do not look too far ahead. It might be a cliche, but the key is to take each game as it comes. That is particularly important in the Premier League, where there is still almost half of the season remaining. Plenty can change from here.

There is no doubt that Arsenal have been the most consistent performers in the division up to now. They have the most points, the joint-highest goal difference and the best expected goals difference. Their defense is the meanest in the division, and their attacking depth is the envy of most clubs in Europe.

Do Arsenal have any major weaknesses? In a purely soccer sense, not really. Viktor Gyokeres has underwhelmed up front, but Arteta has alternatives in the form of Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino. Indeed, Arsenal have options in every part of the pitch, allowing them to cope when players are missing through injury.

With Manchester City inconsistent and struggling with defensive absentees, and Aston Villa’s underlying numbers suggesting they will fade away, perhaps the only team that can prevent Arsenal winning the title is Arsenal themselves.

Having not been crowned champions for 22 years and having finished as runners-up for three consecutive campaigns, Arsenal are desperate to finally get over the line. That includes the fans, who are prone to creating an angst-ridden atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium when things are not going well. Arsenal must handle that internal pressure, as well as the external sort that could be applied by City or Villa.

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Nottingham Forest’s Survival Bid Has Not Been Won Yet

Nottingham Forest fans breathed a deep sigh of relief after their last Premier League encounter. A defeat by West Ham United would have continued Sean Dyche's side’s miserable form and left them just a point clear of the bottom three. When Forest went 1-0 down in the first half, their supporters must have feared the worst.

By the end of the match, though, those fans were jubilant. Nico Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White both found the back of the net to give Forest a 2-1 victory that saw them open up a seven-point advantage over West Ham in 18th.

That does not mean survival is guaranteed. A couple of wins for West Ham or Burnley would change the picture completely. Forest have to balance the relegation battle with their participation in the Europa League, which could become a distraction.

Having said that, Dyche's team have got themselves into an excellent position. While they are seven points above the dreaded dotted line, Forest are eight shy of 11th. There is no reason why they cannot finish in mid-table provided they kick on from here.

“There is still work to be done. My job is to go through that noise and see the facts of it,” Dyche said after his side’s triumph at the London Stadium.

“By no means a classic, but you have got to find a way of winning. These are awkward games. I have been through a lot of these awkward games, I am happy to come out the right side of it tonight and the players just about deserved it.”

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Arsenal Are Likely to Have Too Much for Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest pushed Manchester City hard in a recent fixture at the City Ground, narrowly losing 2-1 after Rayan Cherki notched a late winner. If they can deliver a similar sort of showing here, Arsenal will not have everything their own way. For all their struggles this term, Forest are a good side on their day.

However, they face a very difficult task this weekend. One reason why Arsenal are so formidable is that they can win games in different ways. The Gunners can outperform opponents in open play, or get the better of them via set-pieces. They also have numerous game-changing options in reserve.

Their defensive sturdiness will be an asset against Forest, who can cause teams problems with their direct style of play. But Arsenal do not concede many goals, so they should be able to handle the Forest threat.

Having said that, the hosts could have some success in keeping things tight for the first 45 minutes. Four of Arsenal's 10 away games this season have been level at the interval, but Arteta's charges should find a way past Forest in the second period.

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How to Watch Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal

• Teams: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal

• Location: City Ground, Nottingham, England

• Date and Time: Saturday, January 17 at 12:30 PM ET

• How to Watch: NBC