Anthony Elanga (proper) scored Nottingham Forest’s winner in opposition to Man Utd (Paul ELLIS)
Nottingham Forest beat Manchester United 1-0 to shut in on Champions League soccer subsequent season as Bukayo Saka scored in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham on his return from harm on Tuesday.
Former United winger Anthony Elanga got here again to hang-out his former membership with a surprising solo effort after simply 5 minutes on the Metropolis Floor to earn all three factors for Nuno Espirito Santo’s facet.
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Third-placed Forest prolong their lead over Newcastle in sixth to 10 factors.
Because of the robust efficiency of English sides in European competitions this season, the highest 5 will nearly actually qualify for the Champions League.
Forest are two-time European champions however haven’t performed within the continent’s elite competitors since they have been holders in 1980.
Elanga was discarded by United in 2023 after a vibrant begin to his profession at Outdated Trafford, however is one in every of many Forest success tales fulfilling his potential below Nuno.
The Swedish worldwide collected possession deep inside his personal half however confirmed blistering tempo to burst into the United field earlier than firing low previous Andre Onana.
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“He is a particular boy and he provides this workforce his velocity. He does it by himself and we’re delighted,” mentioned Nuno.
Only a yr after battling to narrowly keep away from relegation, Forest are having fun with an surprising fairytale season that additionally consists of progressing to the FA Cup semi-finals for the primary time in 34 years.
That they had been compelled by way of 120 minutes and penalties to beat Brighton in Saturday’s quarter-final and have been additionally with out prime scorer Chris Wooden as a consequence of harm.
Forest fatigued within the second half, however United have been undone by a well-recognized lack of innovative going ahead.
“This season is like that. We had a number of pictures on objective, we pushed the opponent to the final third, however within the final third we had an absence of high quality,” mentioned United boss Ruben Amorim.
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“We should always have gained this sport, not even drawn, however in the long run now we have misplaced three factors.”
Amorim resorted to sending on centre-back Harry Maguire as a makeshift striker within the closing phases and he almost grabbed an equaliser in stoppage time when his shot was cleared off the road by Murillo.
United stay with out two consecutive Premier League wins all season with the Crimson Devils languishing down in thirteenth.
– Arsenal lose Gabriel –
Arsenal maintained some strain on leaders Liverpool by reducing the hole on the prime to 9 factors.
Saka stole the headlines by coming off the bench to go in on his first look since December 21.
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“A stupendous second to see how a lot our individuals love and respect Bukayo,” mentioned Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on the ovation Saka acquired as he entered the pitch and after scoring.
Mikel Merino’s deflected effort had given Arsenal a first-half lead.
Nevertheless, victory got here at a value as key defender Gabriel Magalhaes limped off injured.
Rodrigo Muniz pulled a objective again in stoppage time, however defeat is a blow to Fulham’s ambitions of European soccer subsequent season.
Only one week away from the Gunners’ Champions League quarter-final, first leg in opposition to Actual Madrid, the sight of Gabriel pulling up with a hamstring drawback added to Mikel Arteta’s harm woes.
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Jurrien Timber additionally had to get replaced late on with Arsenal already lacking Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Saka’s introduction was greeted with the largest cheer of the night time till that time on the Emirates Stadium when he changed Ethan Nwaneri 25 minutes from time.
The England worldwide took simply eight minutes to web his tenth objective of the season.
Saka was in the appropriate place to go in from shut vary after Gabriel Martinelli flicked on Merino’s cross.
On the backside of the desk, Wolves pulled ever nearer to survival with a 1-0 win over West Ham.
Jorgen Strand Larsen scored the one objective at Molineux as Wolves moved 12 factors away from the relegation zone.
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