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NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
20 May, 2023

Awoniyi winner secures Prem survival

On this day in 2023 Forest secure Premier League survival by beating Arsenal at the City Ground.

Iconic match memories

Relegation survival match
Goal scorer Taiwo Awoniyi.
Goal scorer Taiwo Awoniyi. Image: Steffen Prößdorf / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest secured Premier League survival with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal at the City Ground.

Forest entered the match knowing victory would guarantee safety, while Arsenal arrived needing points to keep their fading title hopes alive. The tension around the stadium before kick-off reflected the importance of the occasion for both clubs.

Goal scorer Taiwo Awoniyi.
Goal scorer Taiwo Awoniyi. Image: Steffen Prößdorf / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Taiwo Awoniyi scored the decisive goal in the first half after Forest punished an Arsenal mistake in midfield. Martin Ødegaard’s loose pass allowed Morgan Gibbs-White to drive forward on the counter and release Awoniyi into the area, where Gabriel’s challenge sent the ball back off the Forest striker and past Aaron Ramsdale.

Steve Cooper’s side then defended with determination for long periods as Arsenal controlled possession but struggled to turn it into clear openings. Keylor Navas made important saves as the pressure built, and Forest held their shape through a demanding second half.

When the final whistle arrived, supporters celebrated one of the defining results of Forest’s return to the Premier League. The 1-0 win secured survival in their first top-flight season after promotion and ended Arsenal’s title challenge.

Match Highlights

Sources

Premier League; BBC Sport; Sky Sports

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
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Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
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Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
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Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
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Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
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Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
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Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
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Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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