Arsenal surrendered the Premier League title to Manchester City in meek fashion as they lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The game got off to a peculiar start as Mikel Arteta opted to switch up his starting line up with Thomas Partey at right back and Jakub Kiwior at left back.
The Gunners looked totally out of sorts as a result and started slowly. Forest, buoyed by a boisterous City Ground crowd and the opportunity to all but secure their safety looked the team that wanted it more and went ahead when Gabriel's slide tackle deflected off Taiwo Awoniyi beyond Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal dominated possession, but failed to create an opportunity of note as their title hopes went out with a whimper. Here are some of the moments you may have missed from a frustrating afternoon at the City Ground.
READ MORE: Arsenal confirmed team news vs Nottingham Forest as Leandro Trossard returns and Tierney benched
Saka gets angry with Partey
Arsenal tried something pretty novel at the City Ground as Thomas Partey was thrown in at right back. It was a departure from what we've seen all season where Ben White or Takehiro Tomiyasu have started in that position and it certainly took some getting used to.
White has had an almost symbiotic relationship with Bukayo Saka at times this season, but it didn't seem like Partey and the England international were on the same wavelength. As Saka looked to sprint down the right in behind on one occasion, Partey failed to give him the ball quickly enough and turned back instead. This was much to the frustration of the Hale Ender who could be seen jumping up and down in frustration.
Stuivenberg's message to White
It was a new position for Ben White at the City Ground as well. Well, sort of. The England international spent his first season with Arsenal at centre back but he's gone to another level at right-back this season.
Moved back into the middle for the first time this campaign there were a few teething issues as White needed to remember the passing patterns of the central defender. On one occasion assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg had a word with him to remind the 25-year-old to spray the ball out wide down the wing where Thomas Partey was free instead of playing into the more congested middle of the pitch.
What happened before Tierney introduction
Another player affected by the change in set-up was Jakub Kiwior. The Pole has impressed at right sided centre back, but looked a little lost at left back, barely getting forward.
His attacking contributions were so limited that you could almost pick them out. One was a totally misplaced cross that went to no one. That was enough for Mikel Arteta who immediately signalled for Kieran Tierney to come on seemingly accepting that his experiment had failed.
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