“Too poor and below expectation” Pundit slams 27yr Old with 66.7% accuracy and 0 shots against Arsenal to be axed if Nuno still want European Football.
Chris Wood Rested, Taiwo Awoniyi Struggles as Forest Fall to Arsenal
Chris Wood, who has scored eight Premier League goals for Nottingham Forest this season, was rested by manager Nuno Espírito Santo after returning from international duty with New Zealand. Wood was named on the bench for Forest’s clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Taiwo Awoniyi Starts but Fails to Impress
In Wood’s absence, Taiwo Awoniyi was given the nod to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, the 27-year-old Nigerian striker struggled to make an impact against Arsenal’s formidable defence.
Awoniyi, who has primarily played a backup role to Wood this season, made only his second Premier League start. Despite his efforts, he found himself isolated upfront and unable to create any meaningful chances. Manager Nuno substituted him in the 63rd minute, bringing on Wood, but Forest went on to lose 3-0.
Brian Laws’ Analysis
Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham, Forest legend Brian Laws highlighted how Awoniyi’s performance was hindered by a lack of service:
*”Gabriel and Saliba are top-quality defenders—big, strong lads. It was always going to be tough for Awoniyi, and he was left feeding off scraps. Actually, he didn’t even get scraps today.
“You’re only as good as the quality of service you get, and unfortunately, the balls coming to him were poor—mostly fighting balls that didn’t give him any control.”*
### Awoniyi’s Performance in Numbers
Awoniyi’s limited involvement against Arsenal was evident in his statistics:
– Shots 0
– Pass Accuracy 66.7%
– Touches 22
– Headers Won 3
– Tackles 1
– Clearances 1
– Times Possession Lost 9
The Nigerian forward struggled to connect with Forest’s attacking midfielders and spent much of the game isolated. Without adequate service or support, Awoniyi was unable to make a significant contribution to the match.
Chris Wood’s return to the starting lineup in future games will likely be pivotal as Forest looks to bounce back from this defeat.