Anthony Elanga, the dynamic and tricky winger, was perhaps the biggest addition to come this Premier League season to Nottingham Forest on Deadline Day. He appeared in all 38 matches, revealing his astonishing talent during the season. With an out-sized impact, his contributions have lifted the whole team’s performance to new heights. They’ve drawn the eyes of clubs looking to improve their attacking depth.
Elanga’s pace to date has been the difference maker for Forest. Yet every time he stepped on the field, he brought an elite level of speed. Seven of the top twenty fastest sprints ever recorded in the Premier League belong to him. He presses really well, which further expands his skill set. This signature ability not only disrupts her opponents’ practices but creates scoring opportunities.
More than just his speed, Elanga shows great skill in progressing the ball. For average carry distance, he was 2nd among all attacking players. It was this accomplishment that became key in taking Forest further up the field with the ball glued to his feet. This facet of his game speaks to his role in turning defense into offense.
Over the past two seasons, Elanga has been a reliable playmaker for Nottingham Forest, providing a total of 20 assists. His assists per 90 minutes has gone up every year of his career. This consistent upward trajectory is a testament to his surging impact on the field. Most impressively, he finished the 2024/25 campaign first among all Premier League players assists from dead-ball situations.
Elanga’s versatility allows him to play on either flank or even in a more central role, fitting seamlessly into Nottingham Forest’s tactical setup. As Nuno Espirito Santo pointed out, “It is not one piece by themselves, but how two or three pieces interact together.” Elanga’s versatility to play on the left, in the middle, or on the right has been a massive boost outside of his own development.
In the 2024/25 season, Elanga truly showed off his scoring abilities, scoring 11 goals. This record went on to make him the third highest all time Premier League goal scorer. He’s scored goals with both feet, underlining his dazzling technical ability. It is this versatility that makes him such a big threat in any attacking situation.
Elanga’s contributions were huge at critical junctures. He drew the foul in the first place, and then found the top corner with that free kick, paving the way for Nikola Milenkovic’s second goal to seal victory. His electrifying speed and creativity definitely make him a name to watch. Football pundits have been blown away by Elanga’s talents, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher describing his acceleration as “absolutely electrifying”.
As Elanga matures into one of the game’s brighter prospects, his displays will be instrumental to Nottingham Forest’s ambitions in domestic and European action next season. His pace, creativity and adaptability of play will certainly prove invaluable as Arsenal competes on multiple fronts this current season. If teams want to get an advantage from their build-up attacks, they’ll look to find him.
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