Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal F.C. Timeline – Head-to-Head Record and Results

Nottingham Forest and Arsenal have met 109 times across competitive matches, a rivalry that stretches across Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup encounters. Arsenal hold a clear historical advantage, though Forest have produced memorable upsets in cup competitions, most recently in 2023 when they beat Arsenal at the City Ground to prevent a league title celebration. For more context on high-profile Premier League fixtures, see Man City vs Leicester City – Head-to-Head Stats and History.

Since Forest returned to the Premier League in 2022, the fixture has taken on fresh intensity. Arsenal have largely controlled the results, recording dominant wins including a 5-0 victory in October 2022, while Forest’s two 1-0 wins in that period stand as notable exceptions in an otherwise one-sided recent record. Below is a full breakdown of results, timelines and key statistics for this fixture.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Results: Head-to-Head Record

Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have contested 109 competitive matches across all competitions, with Arsenal winning 56, Forest winning 29 and the remaining 24 ending in draws. The record reflects decades of meetings primarily in the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup.

• Arsenal have won 12 of their last 16 home matches against Forest, losing just twice at the Emirates.
• Forest have managed 3 wins in their last 16 home meetings against Arsenal, with 6 draws completing that record.
• Arsenal have gone unbeaten in their last 7 away visits to Forest’s City Ground.
• Across the last 12 meetings, Arsenal have scored 26 goals compared to Forest’s 8.
• Forest have won only 3 of their last 12 head-to-head matches against Arsenal.
• Arsenal kept 6 clean sheets in their last 9 visits to the City Ground.
• Forest’s last victory over Arsenal came in May 2023, a 1-0 home win.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Last 5 Games

Recent Results in the Fixture

The most recent meeting between the clubs took place on 17 January 2026, ending in a 0-0 draw at the City Ground. Looking at the last five encounters, Arsenal have won two, Forest have won one, and two have ended in draws. Arsenal scored 8 goals across those five matches, while Forest managed just 1.

1. 17 Jan 2026: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal — Premier League
2. 13 Sep 2025: Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest — Premier League
3. 26 Feb 2025: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal — Premier League
4. 23 Nov 2024: Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest — Premier League
5. 30 Jan 2024: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal — Premier League

Notable Results in Recent Meetings

Forest’s most recent victory over Arsenal came on 20 May 2023, when they won 1-0 at the City Ground. That result delayed Arsenal’s Premier League title procession that season and remains one of Forest’s most celebrated results in recent years. Forest also beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup on 9 January 2022, a result that at the time represented a significant upset in the competition’s third round.

Forest’s Last 5 Head-to-Head Record

In their last five head-to-head meetings, Forest have failed to win any match, managing two draws and three losses. They have scored an average of 1.0 goal per game while conceding an average of 1.4. Arsenal, by contrast, have averaged 1.4 goals scored and 1.4 conceded in those same encounters, with two wins, one draw and two losses in the broader recent tally.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal FC Timeline

2016–2021: Cup Encounters and FA Cup Upsets

Before Forest’s 2022 Premier League return, the clubs met less frequently, with cup competitions providing the setting for most encounters. Arsenal won 4-0 in the League Cup at the City Ground on 20 September 2016. Forest then claimed their most memorable recent result in this fixture, beating Arsenal 4-2 in the FA Cup third round on 7 January 2018 at the City Ground. Arsenal responded with a dominant 5-0 League Cup win at the Emirates on 24 September 2019.

2022–2026: The Modern Rivalry Since Forest’s Return

Forest’s return to the Premier League in 2022 renewed regular contact between the clubs in the top flight. Forest beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup third round on 9 January 2022 at the City Ground, one of their most significant results that season. Arsenal then recorded their biggest win in this fixture since the 2019 League Cup meeting, winning 5-0 in the Premier League on 30 October 2022 at the Emirates.

Forest responded with another 1-0 Premier League win on 20 May 2023 at the City Ground, a result that proved costly in Arsenal’s title race that campaign. Arsenal recovered to win the reverse fixture 2-1 on 12 August 2023 at the Emirates, and followed with a 2-1 win at the City Ground on 30 January 2024. Arsenal completed a season double with a 3-0 home win on 23 November 2024, then another 3-0 victory on 13 September 2025. The most recent meeting on 17 January 2026 ended 0-0.

Head-to-Head Record Since 1995

Since 1995, the clubs have met 16 times, with Arsenal winning 10 of those encounters, Forest winning 4 and 2 draws. Arsenal have scored 31 goals across those matches while Forest managed 12. The most decisive results in that period include Arsenal’s 5-0 League Cup win on 24 September 2019 and their 5-0 Premier League win on 30 October 2022, both at the Emirates Stadium. Forest’s standout result came in the FA Cup on 7 January 2018, when they beat Arsenal 4-2 at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal 2025 and Upcoming Matches

2025–2026 Premier League Fixtures So Far

The 2025–2026 Premier League season has seen three Arsenal vs Forest fixtures as of January 2026. On 26 February 2025, Forest hosted Arsenal at the City Ground in a 0-0 draw. Arsenal then beat Forest 3-0 at the Emirates on 13 September 2025. The most recent meeting on 17 January 2026 ended in another goalless draw, this time at Forest’s home ground.

Confirmed Results and Future Fixtures

All results for the 2025–2026 season between these clubs are confirmed through January 2026. Available records from multiple sources do not list any additional Arsenal vs Forest fixtures beyond the 17 January 2026 meeting as of this publication date.

Key Matches in the Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Timeline

The following chronological list highlights the most significant results in the fixture’s history, with particular attention to matches since 2016 and the period since Forest’s Premier League return in 2022.

1. 20 September 2016: Nottingham Forest 0-4 Arsenal — EFL Cup, third round, at City Ground
2. 7 January 2018: Nottingham Forest 4-2 Arsenal — FA Cup, third round, at City Ground
3. 24 September 2019: Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest — EFL Cup, third round, at Emirates
4. 9 January 2022: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal — FA Cup, third round, at City Ground
5. 30 October 2022: Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest — Premier League, at Emirates
6. 20 May 2023: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal — Premier League, at City Ground
7. 12 August 2023: Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest — Premier League, at Emirates
8. 30 January 2024: Nottingham Forest 1-2 Arsenal — Premier League, at City Ground
9. 23 November 2024: Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest — Premier League, at Emirates
10. 17 January 2026: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Arsenal — Premier League, at City Ground

What We Know — and What Remains Unclear

Why the Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest Rivalry Matters

Arsenal hold a commanding overall head-to-head record against Forest across 109 competitive meetings spanning multiple decades and competitions, including the Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup. However, Forest have produced memorable results that punctuate that overall record, most notably their 4-2 FA Cup win in January 2018 and their 1-0 Premier League win in May 2023 that denied Arsenal a title-celebration moment at the City Ground.

Arsenal’s dominance is particularly pronounced at the Emirates Stadium, where they have won 12 of their last 16 home matches against Forest, losing only twice. Forest have not won at Arsenal’s ground in their last 7 visits, a run that underlines the challenge they face in this fixture. Recent seasons have shown that Forest can trouble Arsenal at the City Ground, however, making home advantage a meaningful factor in this matchup.

For more context on high-profile Premier League fixtures, explore Bayern vs Eintracht Frankfurt – Result, Lineups, Stats.

Sources and Background

Head-to-head records and match results for this fixture are drawn from established football statistics sources including Sports Mole and 11v11, both of which track competitive meetings across Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup. Additional data comes from AIScore, which provides detailed head-to-head figures since 1995, and Soccer Punter, which breaks down home and away records over recent match samples. Official club coverage comes from Arsenal.com.

Arsenal hold a dominant historical head-to-head record against Nottingham Forest, with 56 wins, 24 draws, and 29 losses across 109 competitive meetings, primarily in the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup.

— Sports Mole, 11v11

Key Takeaways

Across 109 competitive meetings, Arsenal hold a clear overall advantage with 56 wins to Forest’s 29, with 24 draws. Forest have recorded memorable upsets in this fixture, most recently a 1-0 Premier League win in May 2023, alongside a notable 4-2 FA Cup victory in January 2018. Arsenal have dominated the recent head-to-head record, remaining unbeaten in their last five meetings against Forest. The most recent confirmed fixture was on 17 January 2026, ending in a 0-0 draw. No further Arsenal vs Forest dates for the 2025–2026 season are publicly listed at this stage.

Frequently Asked Questions