• NOTTINGHAM FOREST RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 7. Quickly off his line to smother Gabriel Jesus’ effort early in the game. Forced into a decent save by Saka on the hour mark. AP Photo
    NOTTINGHAM FOREST RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 7. Quickly off his line to smother Gabriel Jesus’ effort early in the game. Forced into a decent save by Saka on the hour mark. AP Photo
  • Joe Worrall - 8. Dovetailed perfectly alongside Felipe to frustrate the Gunners’ attackers. Combined well with Felipe to stop Jesus from running through on goal in the 23rd minute. PA
    Joe Worrall - 8. Dovetailed perfectly alongside Felipe to frustrate the Gunners’ attackers. Combined well with Felipe to stop Jesus from running through on goal in the 23rd minute. PA
  • Felipe - 8. A thorn in the flesh of the Gunners‘ attackers during his time on the pitch. Good block to stop Jesus in the 12th minute. Getty Images
    Felipe - 8. A thorn in the flesh of the Gunners‘ attackers during his time on the pitch. Good block to stop Jesus in the 12th minute. Getty Images
  • Moussa Niakhate - 8. Stayed close to Jesus and stopped him from generating enough power on his effort in the 17th minute. Picked up a needless yellow card for time wasting in the first half. His long throws caused Arsenal problems. AP Photo
    Moussa Niakhate - 8. Stayed close to Jesus and stopped him from generating enough power on his effort in the 17th minute. Picked up a needless yellow card for time wasting in the first half. His long throws caused Arsenal problems. AP Photo
  • Serge Aurier - 9. Did well to keep Trossard and Tierney quiet on the right-hand side. Excellent run to get past three Arsenal players to help relieve the pressure on the home side’s defence in the 80th minute. Getty Images
    Serge Aurier - 9. Did well to keep Trossard and Tierney quiet on the right-hand side. Excellent run to get past three Arsenal players to help relieve the pressure on the home side’s defence in the 80th minute. Getty Images
  • Renan Lodi - 7. Dealt well with the threat of Saka and Odegaard on the left-hand side in the first half. Failed to hit the target when he found space on the edge of the penalty area in the 71st minute. AP Photo
    Renan Lodi - 7. Dealt well with the threat of Saka and Odegaard on the left-hand side in the first half. Failed to hit the target when he found space on the edge of the penalty area in the 71st minute. AP Photo
  • Ryan Yates - 7. Sat back and helped break up attacks. Got close to doubling the home side’s lead, but he failed to make contact with the ball. Getty Images
    Ryan Yates - 7. Sat back and helped break up attacks. Got close to doubling the home side’s lead, but he failed to make contact with the ball. Getty Images
  • Orel Mangala - 7. A workhorse for the home side. Never stopped harrying the Gunners‘ midfielders. PA
    Orel Mangala - 7. A workhorse for the home side. Never stopped harrying the Gunners‘ midfielders. PA
  • Danilo - 5. Failed to get past Ben White when he had the chance to run at the Arsenal defence in the 33rd minute. Was the least effective of Forest’s attacking players. Reuters
    Danilo - 5. Failed to get past Ben White when he had the chance to run at the Arsenal defence in the 33rd minute. Was the least effective of Forest’s attacking players. Reuters
  • Morgan Gibbs-White - 8. Great awareness to intercept Odegaard’s wayward pass and play Awoniyi through on goal for the opener. Could only find the side netting when he pounced on a Ben White error halfway into the second half. Getty Images
    Morgan Gibbs-White - 8. Great awareness to intercept Odegaard’s wayward pass and play Awoniyi through on goal for the opener. Could only find the side netting when he pounced on a Ben White error halfway into the second half. Getty Images
  • Taiwo Awoniyi - 8. Opened the scoring, albeit with a bit of luck, as Gabriel’s intended clearance ricocheted off his foot and bounced past Ramsdale into the net. Proved to be a handful all through the game. PA
    Taiwo Awoniyi - 8. Opened the scoring, albeit with a bit of luck, as Gabriel’s intended clearance ricocheted off his foot and bounced past Ramsdale into the net. Proved to be a handful all through the game. PA
  • SUBS: Cheikhou Kouyate (Danilo, 73') - N/A. Came on and tucked in to help the Forest backline withstand the late Gunners’ onslaught. AP Photo
    SUBS: Cheikhou Kouyate (Danilo, 73') - N/A. Came on and tucked in to help the Forest backline withstand the late Gunners’ onslaught. AP Photo
  • Brennan Johnson (Awoniyi, 80') - N/A. Ended up fouling Ben White when he had the chance to help relieve the pressure on his defenders in added time. Reuters
    Brennan Johnson (Awoniyi, 80') - N/A. Ended up fouling Ben White when he had the chance to help relieve the pressure on his defenders in added time. Reuters
  • Willy Boly (Felipe, 80') - N/A. Played his part by helping to ensure the Gunners didn’t grab an equaliser late in the game. PA
    Willy Boly (Felipe, 80') - N/A. Played his part by helping to ensure the Gunners didn’t grab an equaliser late in the game. PA
  • ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 6. Had a shaky moment early in the second half when he almost dropped the ball after coming off his line to claim a corner kick. Made a routine save off a Gibbs-White in the 90th minute. Getty Images
    ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 6. Had a shaky moment early in the second half when he almost dropped the ball after coming off his line to claim a corner kick. Made a routine save off a Gibbs-White in the 90th minute. Getty Images
  • Ben White - 6. Smart defensive header back into the path of Ramsdale to stop Gibbs-White from getting on the end of Awoniyi’s layoff. Lovely pass over the head of Forest's defence to play Saka in for the Gunners first real chance of the second half. AP Photo
    Ben White - 6. Smart defensive header back into the path of Ramsdale to stop Gibbs-White from getting on the end of Awoniyi’s layoff. Lovely pass over the head of Forest's defence to play Saka in for the Gunners first real chance of the second half. AP Photo
  • Gabriel Malgahaes - 6. Unlucky to see his intended clearance come off the foot of Awoniyi and into the net to give the home side the lead. Dealt well with the threat of Awoniyi in the second half. Reuters
    Gabriel Malgahaes - 6. Unlucky to see his intended clearance come off the foot of Awoniyi and into the net to give the home side the lead. Dealt well with the threat of Awoniyi in the second half. Reuters
  • Jakub Kiwior - 6. Hardly tested defensively at left-back due to the away side having the majority of the possession. Found it hard to get involved in attack. EPA
    Jakub Kiwior - 6. Hardly tested defensively at left-back due to the away side having the majority of the possession. Found it hard to get involved in attack. EPA
  • Thomas Partey - 6. Utilised in an unusual role at right-back, Partey's impact was limited. He played in a dangerous cross in the 42nd minute, but there was no black shirt in the penalty area to get on the end of it. Getty Images
    Thomas Partey - 6. Utilised in an unusual role at right-back, Partey's impact was limited. He played in a dangerous cross in the 42nd minute, but there was no black shirt in the penalty area to get on the end of it. Getty Images
  • Granit Xhaka - 3. Almost invisible for the Gunners. Never really got involved as the visitors tried to find a way back into the game. AP Photo
    Granit Xhaka - 3. Almost invisible for the Gunners. Never really got involved as the visitors tried to find a way back into the game. AP Photo
  • Jorginho - 6. A solid performance at the base of midfield. He helped the Gunners break down attacks, but he couldn’t find the line-breaking passes from deep. Getty Images
    Jorginho - 6. A solid performance at the base of midfield. He helped the Gunners break down attacks, but he couldn’t find the line-breaking passes from deep. Getty Images
  • Martin Odegaard - 5. Excellent dummy to fool two Forest defenders and play Saka through in the 10th minute. His inexplicable wayward backpass led to Forest’s opener. Looked far below his playmaking best. Getty Images
    Martin Odegaard - 5. Excellent dummy to fool two Forest defenders and play Saka through in the 10th minute. His inexplicable wayward backpass led to Forest’s opener. Looked far below his playmaking best. Getty Images
  • Leandro Trossard - 3. A disappointing outing for the Belgian on the left-hand side of the Gunners attack. Should have at least got an effort on target when Saka's corner kick found him in the penalty area. Getty Images
    Leandro Trossard - 3. A disappointing outing for the Belgian on the left-hand side of the Gunners attack. Should have at least got an effort on target when Saka's corner kick found him in the penalty area. Getty Images
  • Bukayo Saka - 5. Couldn’t find a black shirt in the penalty area when Odegaard played through him in the 10th minute. Called Navas into action with a decent effort on the hour mark. AFP
    Bukayo Saka - 5. Couldn’t find a black shirt in the penalty area when Odegaard played through him in the 10th minute. Called Navas into action with a decent effort on the hour mark. AFP
  • Gabriel Jesus - 4. Almost gave the Gunners the lead early in the game, but Navas was quickly off his line to smother the effort. AP Photo
    Gabriel Jesus - 4. Almost gave the Gunners the lead early in the game, but Navas was quickly off his line to smother the effort. AP Photo
  • SUBS: Kieran Tierney (Kiwior, 63') - 5. Offered more in attack than the more defensive-minded Kiwior, but his final balls weren’t of the required quality. Reuters
    SUBS: Kieran Tierney (Kiwior, 63') - 5. Offered more in attack than the more defensive-minded Kiwior, but his final balls weren’t of the required quality. Reuters
  • Eddie Nketiah (Xhaka, 63') - 5. Worked hard after coming on but never really had the chance to trouble Navas in goal. AFP
    Eddie Nketiah (Xhaka, 63') - 5. Worked hard after coming on but never really had the chance to trouble Navas in goal. AFP
  • Fabio Viera (Trossard, 70') - 5. Tried to make things happen after coming on, but failed to match Forest’s physicality. Getty Images
    Fabio Viera (Trossard, 70') - 5. Tried to make things happen after coming on, but failed to match Forest’s physicality. Getty Images

Sport

Football

Nottingham Forest v Arsenal ratings: Aurier 9, Awoniyi 8; Xhaka 3, Saka 5

A 1-0 defeat for second-placed Arsenal hands Manchester City Premier League title

Olakunle Afolabi

May 21, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Manchester City won the Premier League for the fifth time in six seasons after second-placed Arsenal lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

A second consecutive defeat for the Gunners left Mikel Arteta's men still four points adrift of City with one game left for them to play.

Taiwo Awoniyi's winning goal also had huge ramifications at the bottom of the table as Forest are now safe from relegation in their first season back in the top flight for 23 years.

City's title triumph could be the start of a treble as Pep Guardiola's men face Manchester United in the FA Cup final and Inter Milan in the Champions League final next month.

Arsenal pushed the defending champions most of the way but crumbled in the decisive final months of the season.

They have won just two of their last eight games to allow City to canter over the line with three games to spare.

The visitors rarely even looked like scoring as a raucous atmosphere at the City Ground roared Forest onto survival.

Arteta's decision to name an experimental back four without any recognised full-backs backfired inside the first 20 minutes.

  • Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, 20 May 2023. Arsenal lost the match 1-0 to hand Manchester City the Premier League title. EPA
    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, 20 May 2023. Arsenal lost the match 1-0 to hand Manchester City the Premier League title. EPA
  • Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Reuters
    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Reuters
  • Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper and Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta. Getty Images
    Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper and Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta. Getty Images
  • Serge Aurier and Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest celebrate after the team's victory. Forest's 1-0 win over Arsenal secured their Premier League status. Getty Images
    Serge Aurier and Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest celebrate after the team's victory. Forest's 1-0 win over Arsenal secured their Premier League status. Getty Images
  • The LED score board at the City Ground shows the full-time score. Getty Images
    The LED score board at the City Ground shows the full-time score. Getty Images
  • Felipe of Nottingham Forest celebrates after the team's victory. Getty Images
    Felipe of Nottingham Forest celebrates after the team's victory. Getty Images
  • Serge Aurier of Nottingham Forest films the celebrations on his phone. Getty Images
    Serge Aurier of Nottingham Forest films the celebrations on his phone. Getty Images
  • Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper celebrates. AFP
    Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper celebrates. AFP
  • Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal looks dejected following the team's defeat. Getty Images
    Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal looks dejected following the team's defeat. Getty Images
  • Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah reacts after failing to score. AFP
    Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah reacts after failing to score. AFP
  • Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi and Jesse Lingard celebrate avoiding relegation. Reuters
    Nottingham Forest's Taiwo Awoniyi and Jesse Lingard celebrate avoiding relegation. Reuters
  • Nottingham Forest's Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi scores against Arsenal. AFP
    Nottingham Forest's Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi scores against Arsenal. AFP

Morgan Gibbs-White has been central to Forest's recovery after winning just one of their opening 11 league games.

The England under-21 international created the only goal as he teed up Awoniyi to dink home his fifth goal in three games over Aaron Ramsdale.

Forest were then happy to retreat and defend their lead, but Arsenal were a shadow of the vibrant young side that shone in the early months of the season.

Bukayo Saka's tame shot that was easily saved by Keylor Navas was the closest they came to an equaliser.

Arteta's squad is the second youngest in the Premier League and they have run out of steam just as City have hit top speed.

The newly-crowned champions are unbeaten in 23 games in all competitions, including a 4-1 thrashing of Arsenal when the sides met in a top-of-the-table clash last month.

At the other end of the table, Forest move six points clear of the drop zone meaning two from Everton, Leeds or Leicester will join Southampton in the Championship next season.

Updated: May 21, 2023, 6:54 AM
ArsenalPremier League