Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal
by Layth Yousif
at the City Ground

MANAGER Steve Cooper’s Nottingham Forest side secured their top-flight status and Manchester City, in absentia, were crowned champions on a dramatic Saturday afternoon in Nottingham. 

A raucous City Ground erupted on 19 minutes when in-form striker Taiwo Awoniyi slotted home after a driving run by Morgan Gibbs-White to put Forest ahead, and it was enough to end Arsenal’s title challenge.

Despite only 18 per cent possession, the home side’s victory was deserved against a lacklustre Gunners side who have clearly run out of steam after such a stellar campaign, topping the table for 248 days.

The defeat means Arsenal have lost three of their last five league games — as many as they had in their first 32 matches this season.

After the match, a deflated Arteta said: “We must congratulate Manchester City.

“It has been an incredible journey for us over 10 months competing with City, being ahead of them for so long.

“We have learned huge lessons. We have transformed a lot at this club, we have made huge steps but the icing on the cake is to win a championship and we fell short.

“It has been difficult in the last few weeks. We need the team with everyone at their best in April and May and that hasn’t happened.”

His mood contrasted with the delighted Forest boss.

“I’m really proud of the club, supporters and players and really proud of that performance,” said Cooper. “We limited them to very little, [showed] incredible desire and we got over the line.

“It was everything we wished for. It is what the players, and the supporters particularly, deserve.”