Welcome to reportsky sports column Adam Bate We use a mix of data and opinion to reflect on some of the key stories from the latest Premier League matches. This week:
- Gibbs-White shape description
- Why De Zerbi Praises Kinsky
- Soucek is still a space invader.
How Forest unlocked Gibbs-White
No one has scored more Premier League goals in 2026 than Morgan Gibbs-White. The Nottingham Forest player has achieved double figures since the start of the year. He has scored seven goals since the beginning of March. That’s three more goals than anyone else in the competition.
His remarkable rise in form saw him net a hat-trick against Burnley and another in the 5-0 thrashing of Sunderland last time out. His goal lifted Forest clear of the relegation zone and ensured that Gibbs-White qualified for this summer’s World Cup.
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This is a significant change as his form declined at the beginning of this season. That familiar movie never came out. He failed to ignite under Ange Postecoglou and never looked entirely happy playing for Sean Dyche’s side.
Vitor Pereira benefited by pushing him forward a little further and encouraging his trademark driving runs. He has been given more opportunities than any Forest manager since joining the club in 2022, according to Opta. He is still getting many opportunities.
Gibbs-White’s heat map for Nottingham Forest reflects the changes.
In reality, this target total is no accident. Under Pereira, his expected goals tally has also reached an all-time high, more than double what Steve Cooper had when he was already a household name early in his Forest career. So what exactly has changed?
Although the goals have been flowing in for most of the year, the tactical adjustments made in the first half against Burnley really helped. Igor Jesus came on to replace Forest trailing Dilane Bakwa at the City Ground, and their Premier League future appears to be hanging in the balance.
Gibbs-White was deployed in a new role, drifting down the left with Omari Hutchinson asked to fill width on the opposite flank, which helped him find more space. It was a win offensively, even if a lot was asked of the players.
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“When we said we wanted him to play in the pocket when we were attacking, but when we were defending he had to defend on the wing, it didn’t matter to him,” Pereira said after the Burnley game. “He understands the game. He has the spirit.”
Pereira added: “When a team is struggling in a game, many players may not want the ball and prefer to hide themselves. But Morgan wants the ball and he wants responsibility. He wants to score goals and he wants assists.” At Sunderland he did both.
Ibrahim Sangare has taken on a key defensive role for Nottingham Forest this season.
Don’t underestimate the importance of Ibrahim Sangare in unlocking the form of Gibbs-White. Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations last January, the midfielder has become a defensive giant and Forest look like a different team with him.
They have won just one of their 10 Premier League games this season, with Sangare not in the starting line-up, but he has scored 34 times in the 24 games he has been included. Finding the right structure was crucial for Forest. The talented Gibbs-White did the rest.
Kinski’s moment of redemption
Antonin Kinski made a dramatic save from Adam Armstrong in Tottenham’s win over Wolves.
Antonin Kinski wasn’t particularly busy but played a crucial role in Tottenham’s win over Wolves. His save from Joao Gomez’s free-kick into the top corner ensured Spurs their first Premier League title of 2026, meaning they still have hopes of holding on.
The 23-year-old Czech will have plenty of support after a humiliating experience in the Champions League win over Atletico Madrid where he made two mistakes and was substituted by then-manager Igor Tudor before half-time.
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“He deserved today because he played very well,” Robert de Zerby said on Saturday. “Especially today he played a decisive role in the result. He deserves everything because he is a good person and a good goalkeeper. Days like today deserve it, especially after Madrid.”
What overshadowed his miserable evening in Madrid is that Kinski is at Tottenham because he has talent and potential. His distribution with the ball at his feet is actually considered a strength and his display at Molineux was reflected when he was stunning at the back.
Kinski’s passing map for Tottenham’s win over Wolves
He also did a good job when he came off his line to beat Adam Armstrong to the ball after Kevin Danso had fumbled. Showed determination. Tottenham will need him to escape. If Kinsky can continue to play that role, it will be a story of redemption.
Soucek is West Ham’s hero
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Kinski wasn’t the only Czech international to have a successful Premier League weekend. Tomas Soucek opened the scoring in West Ham’s 2-1 win over Everton and made a superb goal-line clearance with the same header to secure the three points.
Soucek has now scored 41 Premier League goals for West Ham. Only 11 men playing in this competition have scored more goals for their current club. It’s not only a testament to the 31-year-old midfielder’s longevity, but also his rare talent for engineering space inside the penalty box.
West Ham’s Tomas Soucek’s goal map shows his threat from close range.
Nuno Espirito Santo mentioned this after his goal against Burnley earlier this season. “He perceives space.” “Thomas always has the quality to find space and score,” he said after scoring against Manchester United. He continues to do that.
Soucek’s header scores the first goal in West Ham’s win over Everton
There was a period when Nuno felt West Ham needed more energy in midfield and opted for the young pairing of Freddie Potts and Sungutu Magassa. Those plans were abandoned in January when West Ham conceded three goals at half-time to Wolves.
Soucek was introduced midway through that game and has since started each of their last 14 Premier League games, playing a key role in turning around their fortunes alongside Mateus Fernandes. Since mid-January, West Ham are sixth in the table.
Typical of a man, Soucek spent his Sunday morning cheering on his West Ham staff colleagues who were taking part in the London Marathon. Jarrod Bowen is the beloved captain, but the club has another talisman who could be a huge factor in their survival.
