Awoniyi’s Nottingham Sinking Further into Relegation Forest

 * Arsenal fans panic EPL title slipping away as a result of draw with West Ham

Femi Solaja

Nigerian international Taiwo Awoniyi and his Nottingham Forest teammates are  sinking deeper into the relegation zone after visiting Manchester United secured a vital 2-0 win to boost their top-four finish this season. 

Awoniyi who played 65 minutes in the Premier League clash before he was replaced by Sam Surridge came close to getting one in the 43rd minute. 

He was however unable to keep his first-time strike from the edge of the penalty area on target – seeing it fly over the crossbar. 

Awoniyi’s fellow compatriot, Emmanuel Dennis was in action for 81 minutes with hitting the target.

Goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot however ensured that the Red Devils capitalised on Newcastle and Tottenham’s slip-ups to consolidate on the third spot on the log.

United so nearly took the lead inside the opening minute when Jadon Sancho latched onto a loose ball in the heart of the penalty area after Keylor Navas failed to punch a low cross clear of danger. Sancho’s subsequent first-time side-footed effort on goal, although it beat Navas, failed to find its way past Felipe, who rushed back to block the ball. 

The majority of the opening half hour was very evenly contested after that, with Forest causing Man Utd problems from set pieces and the visitors causing problems from open play. 

Elsewhere, Arsenal fans bemoaned a chaotic two-minute period in their clash with West Ham that saw Bukayo Saka miss a penalty, before Jarrod Bowen equalised 2-2.

The Gunners raced into a 2-0 lead within the first 10 minutes in the encounter at the London Stadium thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard. 

They appeared to be cruising before the Hammers were awarded a penalty after Gabriel fouled Lucas Paqueta, with Said Benrahma making no mistake from the spot. 

The goal gave the struggling hosts a lifeline and they started the second half brightly, but disaster struck when Michail Antonio was adjudged to have handled Gabriel Martinelli’s shot. 

However, Arsenal talisman Saka put his spot kick wide in dramatic fashion before a hopeful ball in from Thilo Kehrer found Bowen and he fired past Ramsdale – although the Gunners No 1 perhaps should’ve done better with the effort. 

In total, there were two minutes between the penalty miss and Bowen’s equaliser in what could be a pivotal moment in the title race. 

And frustrated Arsenal fans were quick to lambast their team for being pegged back, particularly after drawing 2-2 with Liverpool last week having led 2-0. 

Piers Morgan tweeted: ‘Wake the f*** up, Arsenal – we’re throwing the Title away.’  Another added: ‘Every single game is the same. We get into a comfortable position then stop trying and make things difficult for ourselves.’  

A further supporter went even further and claimed they had now ‘bottled’ their push for the Premier League as a result.