Nottingham Forest outclass Arsenal to hand title to Manchester City

PREMIER LEAGUE Nottingham Forest outclass Arsenal to hand title to Manchester City

Kiplagat Sang • 21:40 - 20.05.2023

Forest are now safe from relegation after holding onto a slim win to claim crucial points.

Manchester City are the Premier League champions after Arsenal fell to a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Taiwo Awoniyi’s first-half goal ensured Forest retained their league status and handed City – who are in action against Chelsea tomorrow - the title.

Meanwhile, Forest claimed the lead in the 19th minute after a counter-attack. Martin Odegaard gave the ball away to Morgan Gibbs-White, who started a fast counter-attack that brought the breakthrough.

Although Gabriel got to the overhit cross first with a slide tackle, the ball deflected off Awoniyi and into the net.

Forest almost got the second in the 35th minute after Orel Mangala dispossessed Odegaard in midfield to spark another counterattack by Forest.

After Danilo sent a through ball to Awoniyi, Aaron Ramsdale was fast to beat the Nigerian to the ball, but the offside flag had already gone up as the hosts kept putting the Gunners under immense pressure.

Forest almost claimed the second goal when Arsenal committed a mistake at the back in the 67th minute. A poor pass from Ben White allowed Gibbs-White to nick it from him, but the Forest man hit the side netting from a tight angle inside the box.

There were cheers in the 85th minute when Keylor Navas did well to stop Vieira’s cross and end an attack from Arsenal.

More attacks were cleared in the 88th minute by Serge Aurier - on his 100th Premier League appearance - and Joe Worrall. Again, a promising attack led by Gabriel Jesus ended when the Brazilian slipped and miskicked the ball out of play, to cheers from the home fans.

Forest came close to adding the second in the 90th minute, but Gibbs-White, while on the edge of the box after a wonderful skill, sent his shot straight to the hands of the Arsenal goalkeeper.