Taiwo Awoniyi continues his impressive streak from the previous season by notching first goal of the season on his birthday, despite Nottingham Forest facing a narrow defeat against Arsenal.
Throughout the match, Arsenal maintained a firm grip on control and effortlessly secured a two-goal advantage by halftime at the Emirates stadium.
Goals courtesy of Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka left Nottingham Forest facing a considerable uphill battle in the second half.
Their quest for a consolation goal lasted until the 82nd minute.
The goal that finally arrived must have been particularly satisfying for Anthony Elanga, who emerged from the bench to assist fellow substitute Taiwo Awoniyi.
This critical goal provided Nottingham Forest with a glimmer of hope.
What made Awoniyi’s contribution truly remarkable isn’t just his well-executed finish, but also his remarkable display of ball control.
After defending an Arsenal corner, he initiated a sequence that involved passing to Anthony Elanga and then showcasing an impressive run into the box.
The coordinated effort of these two substitutes culminated in Anthony Elanga locating Taiwo Awoniyi, resulting in a reduction of the deficit.
This marked Awoniyi’s second goal in as many games against Arsenal
Taiwo Awoniyi’s last 5 Premier League games:
⚽⚽ vs. Southampton
⚽⚽ vs. Chelsea
⚽ vs. Arsenal
⚽ vs. Crystal Palace
⚽ vs. Arsenal
Birthday goal.
Expectations were high among Nigerians, who were eager to witness the Nigerian International as a regular starter for Forest in the current season.
This sentiment stems from his pivotal role in single-handedly salvaging the team from relegation during the previous season.
It ends in defeat on opening day.#ARSNFO pic.twitter.com/g1092guy7S
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) August 12, 2023
The 26-year-old holds the record of being the first Nottingham Forest player since Stan Collymore in 1995 to achieve a scoring streak in five consecutive Premier League matches.
The former Union Berlin forward boasts an impressive record of 7 goals in his last 5 Premier League games.
His relentless scoring prowess has become a defining trait, leaving Steve Cooper, the Forest manager, pondering the potential outcomes had Awoniyi been a starter from the beginning.
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