I’m too old for Arsenal – Aina

Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has humorously dismissed the possibility of joining Arsenal, stating with a smile that he is "too old" for the North London club. The 29-year-old Nigerian international made the remark after being approached by a fan at Wimbledon.

Aina joined Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023 from Torino and has spent the last three seasons with the club. Prior to his return to the Premier League, he had a stint with Fulham during the 2020/21 campaign. A product of Chelsea's academy, Aina has established himself as a key player for his current club.

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I’m too old for Arsenal.

Looking ahead, Aina has set a personal target of scoring at least five goals during the 2026/27 season. This comes after he failed to find the net in the previous campaign, despite making 28 appearances across all competitions. He registered one assist in Forest's UEFA Europa League defeat to Fenerbahce. "I need to pray and fast because I did not score any goals last season," Aina said, expressing his determination to improve his goal-scoring record.

Previously, during the January 2025 transfer window, Aina was reportedly linked with a move to Manchester City following an impressive 2024/25 Premier League season where he scored two goals and provided one assist in 35 league appearances. His career began as a right winger before transitioning to a defensive role.

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I need to pray and fast because I did not score any goals last season. The season before, I think I got three goal involvements. I need to do some serious prayer and fasting because I need at least five. If I get five, I will be content.