The Sun reports Arsenal's interest in Gibbs-White is genuine, with Mikel Arteta's recruitment team monitoring a player whose creative output and goalscoring — 15 Premier League goals in 2025-26, the second highest total among English players behind Ollie Watkins — matches the attacking midfielder profile the Gunners are seeking this summer.
Gibbs-White scored in each of Forest's final two league matches to finish the season on 18 goals across all competitions, despite missing Forest's Europa League semi-final second leg defeat at Aston Villa after suffering a head injury in the first leg victory at Chelsea. His injury meant he was absent as Rogers — Arsenal's primary target — scored in Aston Villa's triumphant second leg.
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo regard Gibbs-White as central to the club's plans and are not actively seeking a sale. He signed a new contract until June 2028 last summer after the club matched Tottenham's triggering of a release clause to keep him. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis personally persuaded him to stay and will not let him leave cheaply.
Rogers remains Arsenal's priority. Gibbs-White is the contingency if Villa's firm stance makes the primary target unattainable.