Morgan Gibbs-White doubtful for Arsenal visit after missing full week of training
Morgan Gibbs-White is a doubt for Nottingham Forest's Premier League clash with Arsenal at the City Ground after failing to complete a full week of training with a muscle injury. Oliver Glasner will make a late call on his fitness, with Nikola Milenkovic also returning to training but Nuno Savona and Igor ruled out.
- Fixture: Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal, Premier League, City Ground
- Headline doubt: Morgan Gibbs-White (minor muscle injury, sustained at Crystal Palace)
- Out: Savona and Igor will both miss the game
- Back in training: Nikola Milenkovic trained for the first time today after more than a month out with a hamstring problem
- Decision: Glasner will make a final call after Saturday's session
- At stake: Forest's midfield creativity and defensive solidity ahead of Arsenal's visit
Injury and availability
Morgan Gibbs-White remains the biggest concern. The midfielder picked up a muscle injury in the 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend and has not completed a full week of training since. He had an individual session with Forest's rehab coaches on Friday and is expected to join Saturday's session, but a late fitness test means uncertainty until the last moment.
Nikola Milenkovic is back in training after more than a month out with a hamstring problem, though Glasner was clear that this does not mean he is ready to start. The defender trained for the first time on Friday and could be in the matchday squad, but match sharpness remains a question.
Savona will still miss the game, as will Igor. Glasner confirmed both absences in his Friday press conference without specifying return dates.
What was said
"Morgan Gibbs-White is doubtful. He couldn't train the entire week with us, but it looks like he can join tomorrow's session, and he had an individual session today with our rehab coaches."
"He suffered a minor muscle injury at Palace, so we have to see how he reacts today and how he deals with tomorrow's session. Then I will take the final decision."
"In a long season, this is a situation that happens, especially when players are going away and playing for their countries for more than two weeks. It's not to blame anybody; it's just that every manager has a different style of training, which the body has to get used to, with a different load. It doesn't seem too serious, so there is a chance he will be available."
"Savona will still miss the game, and Igor as well."
"Milenkovic trained for the first time today, so we will see how he reacts. He could be in the matchday squad, but let's see because he has been out for several weeks."
Glasner's tone was cautious optimism rather than confidence. The phrase "it looks like he can join tomorrow's session" is not the same as "he is fit". Forest will give Gibbs-White every chance, but late fitness tests usually mean exactly what they sound like: uncertainty until the last moment.
The wider point about workload management is telling. Glasner referenced players going away on international duty for more than two weeks and returning to a different training load. It is a familiar complaint, but it also frames the Gibbs-White issue as a minor muscle problem rather than a serious setback. That distinction matters for a player who is central to how Forest play.
Why Forest cannot simply replace Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White is not just another midfielder in this Forest side. He is the link between the deeper build-up and the final third, the player who receives between the lines and turns possession into penetration. Without him, Forest lose their most reliable source of chances created from central areas. Glasner's options are limited: he can push a more conservative midfielder into that role and accept fewer risks, or he can ask a wide player to drift inside and sacrifice width. Neither is a like-for-like solution.
The potential return of Nikola Milenkovic is a separate but related boost. Forest have missed his presence in the box, both defensively and on set-pieces. But Glasner was careful to say Milenkovic could be in the matchday squad, not the starting XI. After more than a month out with a hamstring problem, throwing him straight back against Arsenal would be a risk. Expect him on the bench if he is involved at all.
The absences of Savona and Igor leave Forest short at the back. That increases the temptation to rush Milenkovic, but Glasner's comments suggest he will resist it. The likely outcome is a patched-up defence and a midfield that may have to cope without its chief creator. Against Arsenal, that combination is a serious test of Forest's depth and organisation.
Talking points
- Should Forest risk Gibbs-White from the start if he only completes one session, or is a bench role the smarter play given his importance over the whole season?
- Glasner's workload comments hint at frustration with international breaks, but is that a genuine factor or a convenient narrative when injuries pile up?
- With Savona and Igor out, does Milenkovic's return come too soon, and could rushing him back create a bigger problem than the one it solves?
- If Gibbs-White misses out, who actually creates for Forest against Arsenal? The answer may determine whether they can hurt a top side at the City Ground.
What happens next
Forest will assess Gibbs-White after Saturday's training session before Glasner makes his final decision. Milenkovic will also be monitored for a reaction. The confirmed absences of Savona and Igor mean Forest's defensive options are already stretched. The outcome of those late calls will shape the XI that faces Arsenal at the City Ground, and with the Gunners among the toughest opponents in the division, Forest cannot afford to carry anyone who is not fully ready.
Frequently asked questions
Is Morgan Gibbs-White fit to play against Arsenal?
He is doubtful. Gibbs-White has not completed a full week of training since suffering a minor muscle injury at Crystal Palace, and Glasner will make a final decision after Saturday's session.
Who is out for Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal?
Savona and Igor will both miss the game, according to Oliver Glasner. Nikola Milenkovic has returned to training but is not guaranteed to feature.
Will Nikola Milenkovic start against Arsenal?
Probably not. Glasner said Milenkovic trained for the first time today after more than a month out with a hamstring problem and could be in the matchday squad, but his reaction will be assessed before any decision.
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