Arsenal lose against Nottingham Forest to crown City as the Champions

• Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest as Manchester City are crowned as the Premier League Champions for the 2022/23 season.
• Taiwo Awoniyi scored the winner to secure safety for Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest as Manchester City are crowned as the Premier League Champions for the 2022/23 season.

Taiwo Awoniyi scored the winner to secure safety for Nottingham Forest.

How the game unfolded

Awoniyi scored the only goal of the game to crown Manchester City as Champions. Photo/ Sky Sports

After a quick start from Forest, the Gunners had started to gain control of the game, but in the 19th minute, a sloppy pass from Martin Odegaard gave Morgan Gibbs-White the opportunity to break free and pass it to Awoniyi. Despite Gabriel Magalhaes’ and Aaron Ramsdale’s best efforts, the striker slipped through to find the far corner.

The Tricky Trees’ strategy was very clear—let Arsenal move the ball about and try to score on the break—and it was being applied properly.

The only genuine chances for the visitors to score came from two Leandro Trossard shots from Bukayo Saka corners to the outside of the box, but neither of the Belgian’s attempts were on target as Arsenal failed to capitalize on their 83% of possession.

The second half

Despite the fact that Arsenal’s build-up play on the left was nonexistent in the first half, Arteta decided to leave Tierney on the bench and start the second half with the same lineup in an effort to extend the championship battle for at least another day.

Three minutes after the break, Forest came dangerously close to doubling their advantage, but Ramsdale had to be quick to tip a close-range Felipe attempt around the post. The Gunners’ efforts to get back into the game continued to fail.

Just before the hour mark, Tierney and Eddie Nketiah added on, but Arsenal nearly engineered their own demise once more as Gibbs-White pulled an effort into the side netting from a close angle following Ben White’s mistake in the 67th minute.

Despite their best efforts, Arsenal was unable to penetrate a Forest defense that was fighting for its very existence. The Tricky Trees easily survived seven further minutes, despite Keylor Navas’ injury, to maintain their Premier League status and effectively destroy Arsenal’s title fantasy.

Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates after securing safety for Nottingham Forest. Photo/Nottingham Forest

There were sporadic flashes of attacking menace, with Saka once forcing a save from Navas and Jorginho putting a couple of speculative attempts wide, but Forest were mainly at ease and, although having only 18% of the possession, looked threatening in attack as well.

With a game remaining, Forest has ensured their survival in the top division thanks to Everton’s loss earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Arsenal, who had previously held the top spot for 248 days, will now undoubtedly finish second.

Cooper’s team will now travel to Crystal Palace for a season finale match the following week, as an injured Arsenal finishes an otherwise successful season at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers.