Arsenal fell 1-0 to Nottingham Forest, who clinched their place in the top division in style.
For large parts of the season, which began with more than 20 new signings, they looked destined to return straight back to the Championship, not least when they were on an 11-game winless run going into the end of April.
But Awoniyi’s hot streak, with five goals in three games, helped Steve Cooper’s side lift themselves out of the bottom-three; they can no longer be caught by Southampton, Leicester or Everton.
It completes an impressive job by Cooper, who repaid Forest for the faith they showed when backing him amid their poor run, and his stock continues to rise.
Everton’s draw at Wolves earlier on Suturday meant Forest came into the game knowing a win would guarantee their safety.
They were backed by a vociferous home crowd, desperate to see their side secure survival. Forest have won so many of their points at home this season; they made a strong start as Arsenal’s defence survived some early pressure.
The Gunners began to assert some level of control and Gabriel Jesus was denied by Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Navas came out quickly to smother the ball, while the Brazilian nodded over at the far post.
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But the stadium exploded in the 19th minute as Forest punished their visitors with a lightning counter-attack.
Arsenal had plenty of possession but lacked the creativity and guile to break Forest down in the first half.
Cooper’s side vitally ensured they took their lead into the interval and could have doubled it soon after the restart.
It was more of the same for the Gunners, who had plenty of the ball but did little with it. Bukayo Saka did have a moment of promise when he was played in but he fired straight at Navas.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes with the holy grail of survival in touching distance, Forest began to sit deep and invite pressure on themselves.
It is unsurprising that nerves were so fraught as no side have conceded more goals in the final 15 minutes of matches than Forest’s 17 and every tackle, block and clearance was greeted with cheers as loud as a goal.
