Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal in the 19th minute secured the victory and brought immense joy to the home supporters at the end of Forest’s match agaisnt Arsenal.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance in possession, Mikel Arteta’s team couldn’t break through Forest’s determined defense, Forest win will mean that Cityzens will lift the premier league title.
However, Forest and their passionate supporters were unconcerned about Pep Guardiola and his team. After what felt like an eternity, with seven minutes of injury time and the loss of goalkeeper Keylor Navas in the final seconds, Forest manager Steve Cooper could finally celebrate their survival. Owner Evangelos Marinakis, in the stands above, received embraces from those around him, having been rewarded for his trust in Cooper throughout a tumultuous season.
Awoniyi, who had only scored four goals in his first 23 Premier League games after joining Forest from Union Berlin, now has five goals in his last three matches. Similarly, Morgan Gibbs-White has also experienced a significant improvement in form in recent weeks, and it was no surprise that the two players combined to give Forest the lead.
There was an element of luck as Gabriel managed to reach Gibbs-White’s angled pass into the penalty area before anyone else. However, considering the resilience they displayed in their fight for survival and the incredible support from the fans, Forest deserved the stroke of luck that resulted in the ball hitting Awoniyi, then rising above the diving Aaron Ramsdale and into the net.
Forest had other opportunities, and Gibbs-White should have doubled their lead near the end when he found himself one-on-one with the Arsenal keeper. Nevertheless, fueled by their fighting spirit, which has served them well throughout the season, and backed by loyal fans who have supported Cooper, Forest ensured that they did not let their lead slip away.
