When Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest host Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the City Ground this Sunday, fans will get to witness a pool of talented youngsters showcase their abilities for both sides.
As the 2026-27 domestic campaign enters a demanding stretch shaped by European commitments and international breaks, integrating young players has become an immediate consideration for both sides.
With key absences requiring immediate structural adjustments for both sides, including the likes of William Saliba for the visitors, Striver.Football profiles five young players you should be on the lookout for.
Arsenal’s Young Players to Watch
1. Myles Lewis-Skelly
Age: 20 years old
Tactical Profile: A technical phenom who continues to exhibit extraordinary maturity within Arteta's setup. Thriving as both a highly progressive inverted fullback or central midfielder, he plays with a rare press-resistance that stabilises Arsenal's distribution from the back.
His ability to drift inward to create a midfield overload will be key to unlocking Forest’s deep block.
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 9 appearances across all competitions | 3 key passes | 7 recoveries vs. Lille (Champions League) | Average Sofascore rating: 6.91.
Why Watch Him: Pay close attention to his central positioning during first-phase buildup. Fresh off a masterclass against Lille, Lewis-Skelly’s movement into the central double-pivot opens passing lanes for Arsenal's attackers while offering immediate counter-pressing protection when possession is overturned.
2. Max Dowman
Age: 16 years old
Tactical Profile: At just 16 years old, the electric creative midfielder remains one of the most talked-about teenagers in English football. Armed with sharp close control, sudden acceleration, and an unbalancing directness, Dowman plays with absolute fearlessness.
While his minutes are handled carefully by the medical staff, he acts as Arteta's explosive secret weapon off the bench to unlock tiring rearguards late in the second half.
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 1 competitive senior start (EFL Cup) | 2 goals | 86% dribble success rate.
Why Watch Him: Watch his change of pace when isolated against low defensive blocks. Dowman manipulates a defender's center of gravity with rapid body feints before cutting into half-spaces to deliver a sharp final-third entry pass or strike from range.
Nottingham Forest’s Young Players to Watch
3. Ousmane Diomande
Age: 22 years old
Tactical Profile: Signed from Sporting CP for a reported €40 million in August, the 22-year-old Ivorian centre-back has strengthened the heart of Glasner’s defence.
Standing at 6'3", Ousmane Diomande pairs old-school aerial imposition with smooth distributive habits from the back.
Tasked with holding the line in a high-friction fixture, his physical interventions will be vital to keeping Kai Havertz quiet.
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 4 Premier League appearances (3 starts) | 253 minutes played | 19 defensive clearances | 88.5% passing accuracy.
Why Watch Him: Focus on his defensive reading during transition phases. Diomande steps up proactively to intercept vertical passes into opposition strikers, utilizing his physical frame to step around attackers without giving away cheap fouls.
4. Luca Netz
Age: 23 years old
Tactical Profile: The 23-year-old German left-back provides immense operational elasticity to Forest's wide layout. In Glasner's preferred 3-4-2-1 tactical scheme, Luca Netz acts as an energetic wingback who seamlessly balances defensive responsibilities with explosive overlapping bursts.
His standard 1-v-1 isolation duels against Bukayo Saka down the flank will serve as one of the premier battles of the match.
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 5 Premier League appearances | 341 minutes played | 84% short-pass completion | 11 defensive recoveries | Average Sofascore rating: 6.47.
Why Watch Him: Track his recovery speed and body shape when defending wide channels. Facing Saka requires delaying the winger's inward chop onto his stronger foot; Netz’s discipline in jockeying will dictate whether Forest can keep Arsenal from overloading the right half-space.
5. Jair Cunha
Age: 21 years old
Tactical Profile: The towering 198 cm Brazilian centre-back has enjoyed a stratospheric development cycle since arriving from Santos, even earning his first senior Brazil international cap earlier this autumn.
Jair Cunha acts as a rigid, aggressive enforcer alongside Diomande, sweeping up loose balls and dominating aerial duels. His positioning will face a severe trial against Arsenal's rapid combination plays.
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 4 Premier League appearances (4 starts) | 360 minutes played | 24 clearances | 82.1% pass completion | 2 yellow cards | Average Sofascore rating: 6.68.
Why Watch Him: Observe his back-post dominance during dead-ball routines. Arsenal are lethal from set-pieces, and Cunha’s towering height makes him Forest's primary defensive header on second-phase corners and long throws.
What Young Players Can Learn from Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal
Inverted Positioning Demands Central Scanning (The Full-Backs): Study Myles Lewis-Skelly. Moving from a wide defender role into midfield requires checking your shoulders twice as often.
Young full-backs must learn that press-resistance is about scanning the pitch before the ball arrives to know your escape route.
Patience and Body Orientation Beat Raw Aggression (The Centre-Backs): Watch Ousmane Diomande and Jair Cunha. Top-tier defending relies on jockeying angles and body strength to force attackers wide, rather than committing early to risky slide tackles that leave central spaces exposed.
Changing Tempo in 1-v-1 Duels (The Creative Attackers): Observe Max Dowman and Luca Netz. Elite wide players do not sprint at 100% velocity constantly; they use controlled decelerations to pull defenders out of position before exploding into the space behind.
