Sports
Nwaneri scores first league goal as Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/arsenal-wins-nottingham-forest.jpg&description=Nwaneri scores first league goal as Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/arsenal-wins-nottingham-forest.jpg&description=Nwaneri scores first league goal as Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Arsenal ended their four-game Premier League winless streak in emphatic fashion, defeating Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Saturday to mark Mikel Arteta’s 250th game in charge.
Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey, and teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri found the back of the net as the Gunners achieved a historic milestone of 2,000 top-flight victories—becoming just the second team in English football history to do so.
The breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Bukayo Saka lit up the Emirates Stadium with a stunning goal.
Collecting a lofted pass from Jorginho, Saka combined cleverly with Martin Odegaard, surged past three defenders on the edge of the area, and rifled a superb shot past Matz Sels. The strike marked his third consecutive goal against Forest in as many meetings.
Arsenal nearly had a dream start just four minutes into the game when Jurrien Timber appeared to have scored from a rebound after Mikel Merino’s header, but the celebrations were cut short by a VAR-backed offside decision.
Nevertheless, Saka’s opener set the tone for a dominant performance as the Gunners controlled the game against Forest, who came into the match unbeaten in five away trips this season.
Thomas Partey, introduced at the break, doubled Arsenal’s lead just six minutes into the second half.
Once again, Saka was the architect, finding Partey in acres of space on the edge of the box. The Ghanaian took a touch before unleashing a powerful strike that sailed past Sels into the back of the net.
Forest struggled to trouble Arsenal’s defence, failing to register a shot on target as the Gunners maintained their dominance.
The victory was crucial for a team that had seen leads slip in recent weeks, most notably against Liverpool and Chelsea.
Nwaneri scores first EPL goal
In the 81st minute, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri replaced Gabriel Jesus, and just four minutes later, he made his mark.
Fellow substitute Raheem Sterling advanced down the right flank and cut the ball back to the teenager, who steered it expertly into the bottom corner. It was a moment of brilliance and composure from Nwaneri, who continues to showcase his immense potential.
The Gunners nearly conceded a late consolation goal when Jota Silva tucked home a Chris Wood knockdown, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Arsenal’s clean sheet and commanding performance were a fitting conclusion to a historic afternoon.
What’s next?
Arsenal turn their attention to European competition with a Champions League trip to Portugal to face Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.
They’ll return to Premier League action next Sunday with a trip to West Ham United before hosting Manchester United at the Emirates on 4 December.
This victory not only ends Arsenal’s recent struggles but also signals their intent to push for the top spots in the league as the busy winter schedule approaches.
Portugal head coach, Roberto Martinez, has remained coy about leaving Cristiano Ronaldo out for the last-32 clash against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo started all three matches during the group stages and scored only twice – both goals against Uzbekistan.
There have been calls for the 41-year-old to be dropped, over concerns about his effect on the general team play.
But Martinez refused to commit to benching his top goalscorer in the knockouts.
He said: “Cristiano is used to being in the right place at the right time. He is very disciplined in his position, and he also creates space for his teammates.
“His physical and mental condition is not in question. We may need to make changes in the next match, but we base every decision on the information and data we have.”
Nine African nations are in the FIFA World Cup 2026, advancing to the Round of 32, underlining the continent’s growing influence on football’s biggest stage.
The expanded 48-team tournament has opened the door to more African participation, but the continent’s representatives have done far more than merely fill the numbers.
Through disciplined defending, fearless attacking football and memorable upsets, nine teams have earned their place in the knockout rounds, surpassing every previous African record at the World Cup.
South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Senegal, DR Congo, Cape Verde and Ivory Coast will all carry Africa’s hopes into the first-ever 32-team knockout phase, giving the continent an unprecedented presence as the race for the World Cup trophy intensifies.
The Round of 32 presents a series of daunting but enticing challenges.
South Africa will launch Africa’s knockout campaign against Canada, while Morocco face European heavyweights the Netherlands after an impressive unbeaten group-stage run. Senegal take on Belgium, Egypt meet Australia, and Ghana clash with Colombia,
Algeria face Switzerland, DR Congo battle England, Ivory Coast square off against Norway, and Cape Verde’s remarkable tournament continues with a blockbuster encounter against defending champions Argentina.
The expanded knockout bracket has ensured that Africa’s path to the latter stages will not be straightforward. Several of the continent’s teams are on a collision course with traditional football powers, yet recent performances suggest they are more than capable of producing further surprises.
Morocco continue to build on the momentum generated by their historic run to the semi-finals four years ago, while Senegal and Egypt have once again demonstrated why they remain among Africa’s most consistent performers on the global stage. South Africa’s qualification has energised home supporters, and Cape Verde’s debut appearance in the knockout rounds has become one of the tournament’s most inspiring stories.
For DR Congo, Ghana, Algeria and Ivory Coast, progression beyond the group stage reflects years of investment in player development and the increasing competitiveness of African football. Their qualification reinforces the belief that the gap between Africa and football’s traditional powerhouses continues to narrow.
Beyond the individual stories, the collective achievement sends a powerful message. Never before has Africa entered the knockout rounds with such numerical strength, providing the continent with multiple opportunities to break new ground in the latter stages of the tournament.
With every match now a winner-takes-all affair, Africa’s representatives have an opportunity to redefine the continent’s World Cup legacy. A place in the quarter-finals is no longer viewed as an extraordinary achievement but as a realistic target for several teams, while dreams of producing the first African world champion remain alive.
England booked their place in the World Cup round of 32 as Group L winners after a dominant second-half display earned a 2-0 victory over Panama, with Harry Kane setting a new national scoring record at the tournament.
After a subdued first-half performance that echoed their goalless draw against Ghana earlier in the group stage, England finally found their rhythm after the interval to secure maximum points and top the group standings.
Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock midway through the second half, reacting quickest to convert from a corner and hand England a deserved breakthrough, according to Reuters.
The midfielder turned provider five minutes later, delivering a pinpoint cross for captain Harry Kane, who powered home a header to double England’s advantage.
The goal saw Kane become England’s highest-ever scorer at the FIFA World Cup with 11 goals, surpassing the previous record of 10 held by legendary striker Gary Lineker.
The victory confirmed England’s progress to the round of 32 as Group L champions, where they will face one of the tournament’s third-placed qualifiers in the knockout stage. – June 28, 2026
Ekiti APC Primary: Lawmaker Urges Party to Enforce Electoral Act Over Candidate’s Eligibility
The Three-Month Sprint (3): How in 91 Days We Produced Three Frameworks That Entered the Global Knowledge Ecosystem
2026 World Cup: Portugal coach, Martinez considers dropping Ronaldo against Croatia
-
News15 hours agoNDLEA operatives pin down N12.3bn Loud at Lagos port (Photos)
-
News23 hours agoLagos Begins Unique ID Registration For Public, Private School Students
-
News23 hours agoNDC Vice Chairman, Assembly Candidate, Others Defect to APC After Court Nullifies Party Registration
-
Foreign23 hours agoVenezuela’s earthquake death toll hits 1,430, ‘worst in 123 years’
-
News15 hours agoFinally, Oyo Govt Lifts Curfew In 10 LGAs
-
News23 hours ago‘My Wife Sent Love Messages To Her Lover, Threatened Me With Knife For Dating Two Of My Church Members’
-
Sports15 hours agoSee fixtures as nine African nations make FIFA World Cup knockout stage
-
News15 hours agoLady attempts Guinness Record with 144-Hour Bible reading in Port Harcourt
Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login