'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Arsenal fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, May 20.
Forest entered the game on the back of a tough run of fixtures in which they secured two massive wins. Having beaten Southampton in a thrilling game that ended 4-3, Steve Cooper's men secured a 2-2 draw against Chelsea in their last outing. They were four points clear of the drop zone prior to kick-off and knew any positive result would greatly help their cause for survival.
The Gunners, on the other hand, endured a heart-wrenching month that saw their dreams of winning the league slip away dramatically. With two wins, two draws and two defeats in their last six league games, Mikel Arteta's side lost major ground on Manchester City. However, the Spaniard was eager to end strong as he fielded a strong lineup.
Arsenal made a slightly slow start to the game, allowing Nottingham Forest to settle their nerves and get into a rhythm. This allowed the hosts to pile the pressure on their visitors, forcing a mistake or two early in the game. Taiwo Awoniyi made the most of one such error, pouncing on a mistake by Gabriel Magalhaes as he scored to make it 1-0 after 19 minutes.
The Gunners kept an astounding 80% of the ball in the first period but they were simply unable to convert that into goals. They attempted six shots, hitting the target just twice, with Gabriel Jesus attempting four of those. However, the visitors had it all to do in the second period as they went into the interval trailing 1-0.
Nottingham Forest made a positive start to the second half as they came to terms with the fact they will have to play most of it without the ball at their feet. That is exactly what happened as Arsenal kept possession upwards of 80% in the second half as well. However, the hosts looked better prepared for the onslaught as they kept their composure and were patient in their approach.
Both managers periodically turned to their respective benches as they made alterations to try and change the course of the game. However, neither side were able to score another goal as Nottingham Forest did exceptionally well to hold Arsenal off as they secured a 1-0 win.
With that said, let's take a look at the five major talking points from the contest.
#5 Taiwo Awoniyi made the most of a defensive lapse by Arsenal
Awoniyi continued in his rich vein of goalscoring form as he fired Nottingham Forest ahead after 19 minutes with a sharp finish. He was played through by Morgan Gibbs-White, whose pass had just a little too much on it.
However, Gabriel Magalhaes came sliding in to deal with the ball but it fell straight to the Forest striker, who tapped into an empty net to score.
This is one of several instances the Gunners have conceded a goal of similar nature this season and will need to work on this during training sessions to mitigate the issue.
The goal was Awoniyi's fifth in May, making him the joint top scorer for this month alongside City's Ilkay Gundogan.
#4 The Gunners were not proactive enough in possession
Despite keeping the ball in excess of 80% in the first period, Arsenal were unable to impose themselves on the game as they usually like to do. Forest maintained a rigid shape at the back and defended aggressively as they looked to put up a fight. They also grabbed a shock lead 19 minutes into the game after Awoniyi pounced on a defensive error by the visitors.
The Gunners also showed a lack of patience in crucial moments as Gabriel Jesus attempted shots from unnecessary spots to try and force an equalizer. They were unable to work the ball to players in open spaces and it cost them.
#3 Nottingham Forest absorbed pressure well in the second half
The possession stats for both halves were nearly identical, with Arsenal keeping the ball way more than their hosts. The first half showed that Forest can handle sustained pressure from their opponents, but they found another level altogether in the second half.
Their back three of Joe Worrall, Felipe and Moussa Niakhate did well to nullify the Gunners' intricate passing and movement, nullifying their threat to good effect. The hosts also stood up for one another, backing each other up in coming-togethers and after bad tackles.
#2 Arsenal lacked urgency despite having their backs against the wall
Despite chasing the game for nearly 70 minutes, the Gunners failed to show urgency when it mattered the most. Considering they were up against a team fighting for survival in the league, the game was never going to be easy. However, some poor decisions and a lack of initiative from Arsenal meant it became that way for the hosts.
Having hit the target just twice in the first period, the visitors managed just one shot on target in five attempts in the second period. It was a poor offensive performance from the Gunners yet again as they have now lost their sixth game of the campaign.
#1 The result secured safety for Forest, and the title for Manchester City
The win takes Forest six points clear of the drop zone with one game left to play, while those below them have two games left. However, they are likely to stay on in the Premier League for at least another season, with fans at the City Ground expressing their jubilation in loud choruses of songs at full-time.
Arsenal's defeat also confirmed Manchester City's third Premier League crown in the last three years, making it four in five for Pep Guardiola and his team.
