Awoniyi makes first Premier League start in almost two months, guns for fourth goal in a row Vs Arsenal; Iwobi eyes sixth goal in 11 games Vs Wolves
Ndidi loses for the 83rd time on his 190th Premier League start, sixth in 11 games against Chelsea
Taiwo Awoniyi has been returned to Nottingham Forest’s starting line up for the first time in almost two months and the Nigerian may have been given the task of scoring for the fourth time in a row against Arsenal and on his third appearance at the Emirates stadium.
The Nigerian scored twice in his two visits to the Emirates stadium and may see it as a good omen to score his first goal of the season.
His first goal against Arsenal in May 2023 proved to be the only goal of the game while his second goal at the Emirates was also his side’s only goal in a 2-1 loss.
Meanwhile, Ola Aina is making his 12th straight start in a Premier League season for the first time and the 28-year-old has been one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s best players this term.
He will be looking for his first win in three games against the Gunners this Saturday.
At Craven Cottage, Alex Iwobi has also been handed his 12th straight start as the Nigerian look to score his sixth goal in 11 appearances against the Birmingham-based side.
Iwobi has netted five times in 10 Premier League games against Wolves, the most he has done against any side in the Premier League since he made his debut in the competition in October 2015.
If the 28-year-old scores, it will be his third of the season and just two more to equal his season’s best tally of five achieved in the 2023/24 season.
He has also provided two assists and will look for five more to equal the single season’s tally of seven he and Peter Odemwingie set.
Iwobi’s Nigerian compatriot at Fulham, Calvin Bassey will also make his 12th start and has played the greatest number of minutes (990) among the Nigerian players in the competition this season.
Meanwhile, Wilfred Ndidi lost for the sixth time in 11 Premier League games against Chelsea and on his 190th start in 204 games in the competition on Saturday when his side, Leicester City hosted the west London side.
The defeat means Ndidi has now lost in 83 out of the 204 Premier League games he has featured in since he moved from Belgian Jupiler Pro League side, KRC Genk in January 2017.
