MIKEL ARTETA SERIOUSLY IMPRESSED WITH STRIKER LIVERPOOL SOLD FOR JUST £6.5M

After scoring against the Gunners on Tuesday night, Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest has received plaudits from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

 

Desperate to avoid making the same mistake against Forest, Arsenal traveled to the City Ground on Tuesday night.

Supporters had terrible recollections of losing 1-0 at the City Ground at the end of the previous season and losing the FA Cup in 2022 against Forest.

 

However, Arsenal was more superior in this match and led 2-0 at halftime after goals from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.

 

Taiwo Awoniyi gave Forest a late hope when he scored, but Arsenal held on to win 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.

Awoniyi has scored three goals against Arsenal in his last three meetings, and the Gunners are unable to stop him.

 

Following the final whistle, Arteta praised Awoniyi, telling TNT Sports that

he believes the Forest attacker is a very dangerous player.

When Awoniyi has the opportunity to slip past defenses, Arteta considers him

to be a “genuine threat” and appears to believe that he is a danger when launching counterattacks.

“He is a really dangerous player who, when there are gaps behind you, can

take advantage of them by using his deep block to defend. If he manages to get the

first touch or has the room to run, he is a real threat.” He scored today as well as

earlier on a counter at the Emirates, according to Arteta.

 

With just 11 Premier League goals this season, Awoniyi has already scored five goals, truly living up to his early promise.

 

Awoniyi was signed by Liverpool in 2015 after he was discovered at the Imperial

Soccer Academy in Nigeria, however he was never able to play in a competitive match due to work permit concerns.

 

Awoniyi was sold following loan stints with FSV Frankfurt, NEC, Mouscron

(twice), Gent, Mainz, and Union Berlin. to Union in 2021 for around £6.5 million.

 

However, Awoniyi returned to England in less than a year when Forest paid

£17.5 million to entice him away from Germany and offer him his first genuine

opportunity to play in the Premier League.

 

As Awoniyi continues to score goals for Forest, teams like Liverpool and Arsenal might just sit up and take note of his

talent. This is why Liverpool valued him so highly earlier in his career.