Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, ended Arsenal’s Premiere league title dreams on Saturday night after a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal’s defeat at Forest meant that Manchester City exert their dominance as English champions for the fifth time in six years.
Pep Guardiola’s men became the fifth different side to win three consecutive English top-flight titles after Huddersfield, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United who won it twice.
Steve Cooper staged a great tactical ambush of Mikel Arteta’s demoralized team by plundering his experimental back four with unrecognized fullback with a first half goal on the counterattack through Awoniyi 20-minutes into the first half.
The Reds hit on the break with Morgan Gibbs-White gliding through the midfield before slipping in Taiwo Awoniyi whose small dink went over Ramsdale and into the back of the net, Forest’s website described.
Forest’s victory secured their status in the Premier League for next season – it’s the fourth different campaign in which all three promoted sides have stayed up, after 2001-02, 2011-12 and 2017-18.
For Arsenal, the end of the season cannot come soon enough as what appeared to be their breakthrough season crumbled abruptly after a series of draws and loses, including last week’s home defeat to Brighton.
The likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Martin Ødegaard, failed to turn up for the party up front as Forest soared on Awoniyi’s wings onto survival.
“I have the feeling we could play for three hours (without scoring),” added Arteta. “It’s my responsibility and I have to take it.”
Forest move six points clear of the drop zone meaning two from Everton, Leeds or Leicester will join Southampton in the Championship next season.
“It’s a day for the supporters and the players. It’s been a unique season in the way we’ve gone about our work,” said Forest boss Steve Cooper, who had to bed in 30 new signings this season.
“Nobody gave up and in the end we’ve managed to get over the line.”
