5.10pmSCOTT TO SEE FOREST FIRES

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST defender Scott McKenna believes his side are set for a storming 2022 – starting tomorrow against Arsenal.

Forest could give debuts to two new signings against the Gunners – experienced defender Steve Cook signed from Bournemouth and striker Keinan Davis on loan from Aston Villa.

McKenna (right) said: “Seeing new faces come in always gives the squad a boost. I feel they will really help us in the second half of the season.

“We have all trained with them now in the last couple of days.

They are top-quality players with Premier League experience.

“There is competition at the back and at the top end of the pitch. It can make a massive difference. We have a good core with that experience right through the middle of the team.”

Arteta (top) has insisted his Arsenal want to play despite being “really short in numbers.”

Liverpool got Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final postponed after boss Jurgen Klopp tested positive and their training ground was closed. And the

Gunners have Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have gone to the Africa Cup of Nations, while Gabriel is suspended and other players are out with injuries and positive Covid tests.

Arteta said his club were “open” to new signings this January with Ainsley Maitland-Niles set to join Roma on loan.

The Spaniard, who will return to the bench after his second bout of Covid, said: “We are really, really short with numbers. But we want to do everything to play the game.”

Fiorentina forward Dusan Vlahovic has been linked with Arsenal and Arteta added: “If it is the right player and we can afford it, we are open.”