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Ola Aina’s Nottingham Forest are level on points with Arsenal, and the Nigerian full-back has been a major factor in the Tricky Tees’ surprising rise

Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina has emerged as one of the most influential defensive players in the Premier League this season.

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While attacking stars like Bukayo Saka are celebrated for their goals, Aina’s last-ditch defending has directly won more points for his team—proving the crucial role defenders play in securing results.

Aina’s defensive heroics keep Nottingham Forest alive

Under Nuno Espírito Santo, Nottingham Forest have relied on a defensive-first approach, often conceding possession but staying solid at the back.

Aina has been at the heart of this resilience, making three crucial goal-line clearances that have earned Forest an additional five Premier League points.

His interventions have turned potential draws into wins and defeats into draws, including against Ipswich, securing a 1-0 win instead of a 1-1 draw (+2 points), against Liverpool, ensuring a 1-1 draw rather than a 1-2 defeat (+1 point), and a 3-2 win over Southampton, preventing a 3-3 draw (+2 points).

Saka’s impact at Arsenal this season

While Bukayo Saka is undoubtedly one of Arsenal’s most influential players, his goal contributions have not directly impacted results to the same extent as Aina’s defensive work.

Despite scoring five Premier League goals, only one—against Nottingham Forest—actually changed the course of the game, earning two extra points for Arsenal.

In comparison, Aina’s clearances alone have won five points for Forest, more than any individual player’s last-ditch defensive interventions in the league.

This statistical breakdown only goes to show how defensive contributions can be just as decisive as attacking ones; and in this case, Aina’s efforts at the back have been more impactful in determining results than Saka’s goals.