Adrian Clarke picks out key battles between players and teams going head-to-head in Matchweek 37.
Player analysis - Taiwo Awoniyi (NFO)
Awoniyi’s eight Premier League goals have been worth a precious 11 points for Nottingham Forest this season.
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The striker scored three winners earlier in the campaign and he has now netted four times in his last two appearances, providing an end-of-season lifeline for Steve Cooper’s side.
Awoniyi provides a strong, physical presence in and around the box, and he has the tools to make life uncomfortable for Arsenal’s defenders at the City Ground on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, who signed from Bundesliga side Union Berlin last summer, has started only 15 of Forest’s 36 top-flight matches.
Injuries have impacted his season, but Awoniyi has also started on the bench when Cooper has preferred to go with a "false nine" instead.
Awoniyi’s minutes-per-goal ratio is impressive.
Scoring eight times at a rate of one every 155.38 minutes, he is a player who Arsenal will need to respect.
Forest's goal output 22/23
| Player | Mins per goal | Player | xG*/90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awoniyi | 155.4 | Awoniyi | 0.46 |
| Danilo | 302.0 | Johnson | 0.27 |
| Johnson | 354.8 | Gibbs-White | 0.19 |
| Gibbs-White | 559.8 | Danilo | 0.15 |
*xG = Expected Goals
All of his goals have come from inside the box, including three headers, and his conversion rate of 26.7 per cent stands up against most of the division’s top strikers.
Forest’s forward does not tend to see a great deal of the ball outside of the penalty area.
He works hard to defend from the front, but his involvements in possession are often minimal.
Brennan Johnson, with 27.14 touches, is the only Forest player to average fewer than Awoniyi’s 31.21 per 90 minutes.
The striker scored four goals against Southampton and Chelsea, but his touch count in both matches was only 22.
Awoniyi's MW36 header v Chelsea
A lovely assist for the second and this tackle which led to the first 💥
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 14, 2023
👏 @JMangala_8 pic.twitter.com/vZRPHXZGuO
Awoniyi only made seven and five accurate passes respectively in those fixtures.
Better with him in the side
While he may be quiet for long periods, Forest do look a better team with him in the starting XI.
Awoniyi is an outlet for defenders to find from the back. His presence allows Morgan Gibbs-White and Johnson more opportunities to roam between the lines, while he adds a physicality in both penalty boxes.
Forest with Awoniyi starting v not
| Statistic | With Awoniyi | Without Awoniyi |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 15 | 21 |
| Won | 5 | 3 |
| Drawn | 3 | 7 |
| Lost | 7 | 11 |
| Points | 18 | 16 |
The difference Awoniyi makes is reflected in the points tally Forest have accrued, whenever he has featured from the start.
As they go in search of a vital point, or possibly three, against Arsenal in front of their own fans, Cooper is sure to name him in his side.
Awoniyi's form and finishing suggest he can be a threat.
Also in this series
Part 2: Trippier can deliver Newcastle to the Champions League