Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has praised Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi after scoring against the Gunners on Tuesday night.
Arsenal headed to the City Ground on Tuesday night, desperate to avoid another slip-up against Forest.
Fans had torrid memories of a 2022 FA Cup exit against Forest and a 1-0 defeat at the City Ground towards the end of last season.
Arsenal were much better in this one though and took a 2-0 lead in the second half thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.
Forest were given late hope as Taiwo Awoniyi found the net but Arsenal held on to claim all three points.
Mikel Arteta praises Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi
Arsenal claimed the three points but Forest striker Awoniyi is becoming a real thorn in the side for Mikel Arteta and co.
Awoniyi scored the winner for Forest against Arsenal back in May, handing the Premier League title to Manchester City in the process.
The Nigerian then scored from close range on the opening weekend of this season, giving Forest hope in what proved to be a 2-1 defeat.
Awoniyi was at it again on Tuesday night, latching onto a long ball to fire past David Raya and bring Forest back into the game.
That is three goals in Awoniyi’s last three games against Arsenal and the Gunners just can’t seem to stop him.
Arteta offered praise to Awoniyi after the final whistle, telling TNT Sports that he thinks the Forest striker is a really dangerous player.
Arteta feels that Awoniyi is a ‘real threat’ when he has a chance to run in behind defences and seemingly feels that he is a menace on counter-attacks.
“He is a real threat and obviously with a deep block that they defend with, when there are spaces behind you, if he has managed to take the first touch or has got the space to run, he is a really dangerous player. He scored already on a counter at the Emirates and he scored again today,” said Arteta.
Awoniyi now has five goals in just 11 Premier League goals this season and is really fulfilling the early potential he showed.
Liverpool pounced to sign Awoniyi from the Imperial Soccer Academy in Nigeria way back in 2015 but work permit issues meant he never made a competitive debut.
After loan spells at FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron (twice), Gent, Mainz and Union Berlin, Awoniyi was sold to Union for around £6.5million in 2021.
Awoniyi was back in England just a year later though as Forest forked out £17.5million to lure him away from Germany and give him a first real Premier League chance.
Awoniyi is now showing why Liverpool rated him so highly earlier in his career and if he continues to score goals for Forest, clubs like Liverpool and Arsenal may just sit up and take notice of his talent.
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