Arsenal’s defence of FA Cup ends in Notts Forest shocker
Second-tier club eliminates Londoners as banned Wenger watches from stands
Arsenal’s FA Cup defence ended at the first hurdle with a shocking 4-2 loss to second-tier side Nottingham Forest on Sunday as Arsene Wenger’s decision to rest stars backfired.
It was the first time since taking charge of Arsenal in 1996 that Wenger has been eliminated in the third round of the competition, which his team has won in three of the last four seasons. Wenger was forced to watch from the stands in Nottingham as he started a threematch touchline ban for misconduct toward a referee.
Eric Lichaj scored twice for Forest in the first half before Ben Brereton and Kieran Dowell both netted penalties after the break.
“My wife told me that if I get a hat trick any time during the year, then I get a dog so I was trying to get the penalty,” said Lichaj, an American defender.
Forest, which is 14th in the second-tier League Championship, last played in the Premier League in 1999.
During its heyday, the central England team won the top division in 1978 and stunned the continent by winning back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough. It last reached the FA Cup final in 1991 when it lost to Tottenham.
WEST HAM FIT TO BE TIED IN PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham SHREWSBURY, ENGLAND midfielder Josh Cullen watched a tooth come flying out of his mouth after being caught by an opponent in an unimpressive FA Cup display by the Premier League side in a 0-0 draw at third-tier Shrewsbury on Sunday.
Shrewsbury earned a thirdround replay at the Olympic Stadium after West Ham struggled in its third game in five days. Cullen had a front tooth inadvertently kicked out by Shrewsbury midfielder Abu Ogogo as they both went for the ball in the 75th minute. The tooth was recovered from the turf, while a bloodied Cullen was cleaned up on the touchline before returning to the action.
In another match, Harry Kane scored twice and Jan Vertonghen also netted in an eight-minute second-half spell to give Tottenham a 3-0 victory over third-tier AFC Wimbledon at Wembley Stadium — the site of the final being used as the north London club’s temporary home this season.
A shock came in Sunday’s first game with fourth-tier side Newport knocking out Leeds, which is 53 places higher in the league ladder in the second-tier Championship.
Leeds led through Gaetano Berardi’s ninth-minute strike but Newport levelled through Conor Shaugnessy’s own-goal in the 76th and Shawn McCoulsky’s 89thminute header sealed a 2-1 victory.
Leeds finished with 10 men after Spanish forward Samuel Saiz was sent off in stoppage time for spitting at Newport midfielder Robbie Willmott.