Premier League
New York Times asks: How good is Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina?
BY PAUL TAYLOR
When Ola Aina was drafted in to help open a new sports pitch at a Nottingham school before Christmas, the defender ensured dozens of pupils went home with memories they will treasure.
While his Nottingham Forest team-mate Anthony Elanga was whisked away to conduct a media interview after the ceremony, Aina happily stayed and spent 20 minutes having a friendly kick-around with the kids at the Chetwynd Spencer Academy in Toton.
When Forest win at the City Ground, Aina and Callum Hudson-Odoi are often the last players to make their way off the pitch and down the tunnel. Normally, they dance their way back to the dressing room.
When Hudson-Odoi picked up a minor injury in the final stages of the recent 1-0 win over Tottenham, Aina carried him off the pitch and down the tunnel on his back, all while still attempting a vague dance.
After scoring a spectacular goal from the edge of the box in the 3-0 win over West Ham in November, Aina admitted afterwards he had only struck the shot because he was tired. “I was knackered, so I thought I might as well hit it,” he told Optus Sport, all while sipping on a carton of fruit juice, through a straw.
All of which inspired the recently unveiled terrace chant that Forest fans have conjured up for the defender: ‘Ola Aina, Ola Aina, he drinks Ribena, scores a screamer, Forest are magic…’
To add to his buoyant personality, Aina is also a very good player, so it is no surprise he has gradually become something of a cult figure.
Much has been made of the money Forest have spent in the transfer market since they were promoted from the Championship in 2022. There have been some clever investments — including Nikola Milenkovic and Elliot Anderson, who have become key figures since joining last summer. But among the best deals in recent years has to be the capture of Aina as a free agent following the end of his contract at Torino in July 2023.
Tomorrow, the visit of Liverpool will see Arne Slot’s side arrive with Trent Alexander-Arnold, a player who has almost reinvented what it means to play at right-back. Alexander-Arnold has been the subject of frequent links to Real Madrid, whose inquiries about a January move were rejected by Liverpool. But there is a reason why the Spanish giants are keen. In 336 appearances for his boyhood club, Alexander-Arnold has established himself as an integral figure.
While they are very different players, Aina has also evolved into a vastly important cog in the machine under Nuno Espirito Santo. More than that, within 40 Premier League starts and two sub appearances for Forest, Aina has become one of the best-performing right-backs in the top flight.
In the build-up to the game, Slot acknowledged that Forest deserves to be talked about as title challengers. In the same vein, Aina has shown he deserves to mix with the elite — there cannot be many full-backs who are performing at a higher level than the Chelsea academy product.
Like his Liverpool counterpart, Aina is out of contract in the summer. Unlike Alexander-Arnold, he is unlikely to have the option of walking away for nothing. There is a clause in his deal that will see it extended to the end of the 2025-26 season, which will be activated if he reaches a certain number of appearances — a mark he is very close to already.
In the meantime, Forest are also keen to agree a longer contract with the Nigeria international and negotiations continue. Whatever happens, he will almost certainly remain a Forest player beyond this season, which will be good news for Nuno (and for sales of Ribena in Nottingham).
“He has been good. Very good. Last season was difficult for him, because he was distracted by a few physical issues. He still finished last season really well and this season he has been doing fantastically well for the team,” said Nuno when asked about Aina in his pre-match press conference. “His performance levels are fantastic.”
Defensively, Aina’s stats are better than Alexander-Arnold’s. Aina’s “true” tackle win rate (which accounts for tackles plus challenges lost and fouls committed) is 67 per cent this season — better than Alexander-Arnold’s 58. Similarly, Alexander-Arnold has been dribbled past on 41 per cent of the occasions he was taken on, while Aina’s figure is 25.
Aina is a more solid, consistent defender, although that is also within a Forest side that adopt a deeper defensive block, which contrasts with Liverpool’s higher defensive line.
Creatively, Alexander-Arnold is — unsurprisingly — streets ahead of Aina. But probably almost every other defender too. The 1.7 open-play chances he creates far exceeds Aina’s 0.27 per 90 minutes, with an expected assists (xG) per 90 of 0.35 compared with Aina’s 0.03 per 90.
But Aina’s most valuable quality to Forest is his ability to turn defence into attack: on a very basic level, to advance Forest up the pitch.
Aina has completed 80 carries after a defensive action this season, the most of any Premier League player. On top of that, 23 per cent of his carries are progressive, the second-highest proportion among full-backs in the division (behind Aaron Wan-Bissaka).
“That (his ability to carry the ball out of defence) is one of the characteristics we like. But defensively he is also very solid,” added Nuno.
Only Moises Caicedo and Ryan Christie have made more ball recoveries than Aina (who averages 6.13 per 90 minutes) this season in the Premier League.
Speed is also important. As revealed in a recent interview with The Athletic, Elanga regards himself as being the fastest player at Forest. But Aina is not far behind. The rivalry between the two players on that front is a friendly one. Aina is an influential, positive figure and a popular team-mate.
“He is a fantastic character,” Nuno said. “We have a good group of players — a very good group of people and characters. They enjoy being together and working together. Ola is very much one of those.”
If Forest beat Liverpool at the City Ground, they will equal their club record of seven consecutive league wins, which was set in 1922. They would also move to within three points of the league leaders.
Whatever happens, it has already been a remarkable journey — and one that Aina has been one of the leading characters in. Getting him tied down to a new deal would qualify as another astute piece of business.
–New York Times; Additional reporting: Thom Harris and Mark Carey
(Top photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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