‘It’s a controlled finish’ – Michael Owen reveals what impressed him about Aina’s

Ola Aina and Orel Mangala scored early goals in each half to give Steve Cooper’s team a 2-0 victory over Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, helping Nottingham Forest maintain their unbeaten home record in the Premier League this season.

Ola Aina’s goal gave Nottingham Forest the lead at halftime for the first time since late August. It was Aina’s sixth goal overall in 205 appearances for Chelsea, Hull City, Torino, and Nottingham Forest.

 

On his seventh appearance for the two-time European champions, the Nigerian international scored his first goal in Nottingham Forest colors with a well-executed move that saw him guide the ball into the bottom corner with a sidefoot finish from about 25 yards out.

Michael Owen, a former striker for Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle United, was praising Aina for how he took his goal, emphasizing that the defender chose to sidefoot home rather than go for power. Owen was a pundit for Premier League Productions.

“You’d actually expect a ball like this to be hit with the laces from that far out, 25 yards out really,” the legendary player from England remarked. He actually finishes with the inside of his foot in a very controlled manner.

“You can see there three or four Nottingham Forest players offside, I’d say that Awoniyi is the one influencing it most but I don’t think he’s causing any interference with the goalkeeper’s line of sight.

 

He added: “I do feel the ball was meant for Mangala not for him. If he went for power, I won’t blame him, I do think laces are used far too much in the game especially inside the box.

 

“That just goes to show you can get power as well as even more accuracy with the side of your foot.

“It’s a beautiful strike and hard enough to knock it past the goalkeeper.”

 

Following their win, Nottingham Forest have leapfrogged Chelsea in the 12th position while Aston Villa missed the chance to move into the top three and remain fifth in the standings.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

 

Photo Credit: nottinghamforest.co.uk

 

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