So, Arsenal may well field an unchanged line-up. If there are any changes, the most likely is the reintroduction of Robert Pires, who has come off the bench (to score) in both of our Premiership matches so far this season. Hard to say who to drop though! The most likely option is Freddie, perhaps with Dennis moving to the right and Reyes going up front to allow Bobby onto the left. He could just swap Reyes and Pires but Jose's form is out of this world and Wenger will probably not want to disrupt his development. Bergkamp will surely stay, not just because of his game-changing surge on Sunday but also because he is captain in Vieira's absence.

Rovers have skipper Barry Ferguson missing through suspension, despite referee Andy D'Urso's bizarre failure to send him off for his 2 yellow cards on Saturday! (so do suspensions happen immediately now?). Tugay will be captain in his absence. David Thompason returns to the squad having missed the first 2 games with a knee problem.

With Arsenal looking to beat Forest's record of 42 unbeaten top-flight games, the match features a slightly disturbing parallel. Forest's run was stopped in 1978 by Liverpool including, on the pitch, current Rovers boss Graeme Souness (see also the addendum at the bottom). But Souness himself has been saying that the current Arsenal side is much better. This is born out by the stats: Forest's 42 was split equally into wins and draws while ours has featured 30 wins to 12 draws. A lot more goals in our games too (see record-breakers page.

"Forest got the most out of what they had at the time, which was some great professionals who worked for the cause. But they were never exciting to watch," says Souness. "Even the great Liverpool sides I played in were not as good to watch as Arsenal are now. There's an argument over it because Forest won in Europe and Arsenal have not. Those questions will be there until they have won the Champions League a couple of times. But not in my book. They compare with any team I have seen playing football. They excite me, are determined and have that never-say-die attitude."

But he also promises that they are "not going to be poodles going on our backs to have our tummies scratched". We'll see.

Rupe adds...
It has been pointed out that Alan Mullery was claiming on TalkSport radio the other day that Forest's 42 match run was ended by Brighton and Hove Albion, while he was their manager. This is patent nonsense. BHA weren't even in the same division in December 1978 (the 9th, to be precise) when Liverpool ended Forest's run with a 2-0 win at Anfield.

Albion did actually play against Forest in the latter's next match: a League Cup tie. But, errr, Forest won that match! Nice try, Alan.

Rupe adds...
Thanks to Karl from Forest fansite The Discerning Eye for filling in the gap. Apparently BHA were responsible for ending Forest's unbeaten home run, which happened during the following season (79/80) following Albion's promotion to the top flight. So, Mullery's just a bit forgetful rather than completely gaga.