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It’s no longer news that Ola Aina played a key role in Nottingham Forest’s impressive victory over West Ham United after delivering a surprise wonder goal in their Premier League game on Saturday. The Super Eagles defender’s thunderous strike not only sealed the match but also sparked discussions about the team’s remarkable rise in the Premier League standings, Footballrover reports.
As Forest climbed to third place, their highest position in 26 years, Aina took a moment to reflect on this unforgettable moment and the secret behind their current form.
Aina opened his account for the season with a brilliant left-footed shot from the edge of the box, wrapping up a crucial win that secured all three points for his side.
Nottingham Forest has now achieved three consecutive Premier League victories, showing their intent to compete at the highest level.
Under Nuno Espirito Santo, the team knew they could break into the top four with a win, and they delivered emphatically, defeating the Hammers 3-0 at the City Ground.
The Reds made a positive start, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Nicolas Dominguez both testing the West Ham defence in the first ten minutes.
Chris Wood and the former Chelsea star went on to score the opening goals before Aina’s breathtaking effort capped off a dominant performance.
SURPRISED GOAL
In a post-match interview with Optus Sport, Aina expressed his delight, saying,
“Sometimes it comes out. I like to surprise everyone; I just bounced up right, and then I was knackered anyway, so I just thought I might as well hit it.”
When asked if he ever anticipated it would hit the top corner, the 28-year-old Nigerian international replied,
“Something like that, yeah!”
And while speaking on their unexpected rise to third in the Premier League table, Aina emphasised the team’s work ethic:
“Yeah, it’s, you know, I think it’s just that we are taking every game as it comes and we’re just working hard, you know. I think that’s the formula for us. Just work hard and take every game as it comes, and like I said last week, come the end of May, we’ll just see where we are at.”
10 in 10
Having featured in all of Nottingham Forest’s ten league games this season, Aina’s contributions have been integral to the team’s success.
The Super Eagles defender’s thunderous strike not only sealed the match but also sparked discussions about the team’s remarkable rise in the Premier League standings, Footballrover reports.
The goal also got the attention of many pundits, among them Troy Deeney, the erstwhile player-manager of Forest Green Rovers.
After overlooking every Forest player following the win over Liverpool, Deeney has now included a Forest man for three weeks on the spin.
This time, the BBC Premiership pundit has chosen Aina as the man to get the nod and he believes he’s been proving his worth for a number of weeks now.
He told BBC Sport: “I could have put Ipswich’s Leif Davis in and wanted to but Forest are steadily going about their business.
“Aina was great in the win over West Ham – he has been for a few weeks and has been unfortunate to miss out. I like to give credit to people who have shown they can do it over a period of time.”
The Watford legend therefore named the Super Eagles defender in his Premier League team of the week.
THREE TIMES LUCKY
Smarting from the sparkling form, Aina could not help recollect his almost botched transfer to Nottingham Forest and how he almost did not come to the English club Torino.
He said the team was persistent and it was only the third time that they came calling that Torino allowed him to go.
He said Nottingham Forest ended up shelling out money to secure his services.
The versatile full-back has to go down as one of the Reds’ best pieces of transfer business of recent years. After leaving Torino in the summer of 2023, he put pen to paper at the City Ground as a free agent and has since established himself as a key player.
But Aina says he could have signed for the club a year before he actually did – albeit for a fee. It seems it was a case of third time lucky for Forest in pursuit of the Nigeria international.
“I was coming into my last year at Torino and initially they wanted to buy me,” Aina told the Counter Attack Podcast. “This was Forest’s first season in the Prem, but Torino said no, whatever.
“I started the season and they came again in January wanting to buy me, but Torino said no. I finished the season at Torino and was a free agent, so Forest was like, ‘Yep, we’ll grab him for free’. That’s how it happened.”
At the end of last term, Forest activated a one-year extension option on Aina’s initial 12-month deal. As it stands, it means he is due to become a free agent again next summer.
Aina may have done well enough going by his top notched skill to justify Forest extending his contract.
HAPPY TO BE HERE
He said he is happy to be at Forest and feels among family.
“I feel very much at home at the club. “I’ve been really happy with my time spent here at Forest and the fans have been great. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”
Nottingham Forest activated a one-year extension in Aina’s contract last May, and the 27-year-old has enjoyed a positive first season on Trentside having joined the club on a free transfer last summer.
Aina scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 home win over Aston Villa, whilst also reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria as well as being named in the Team of the Tournament.
Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson added: “Since Ola joined the club last summer he has impressed all of us with his performances both on the pitch and also with the positive personality that he brings to the group every day.