Arsenal dumped out of FA Cup
Forest continued to probe an inexperienced Arsenal line-up
LONDON: FA Cup holders Arsenal were sensationally dumped out of the competition by Nottingham Forest yesterday, joining Leeds United as big-name casualties on a day of shocks.
Championship side Forest revived memories of their glory years under Brian Clough, putting 13-times winners Arsenal to the sword in an incident-packed 4-2 win at the City Ground. “It was good. My wife told me that if I score a hat-trick at any point this year then I get a dog, so I was trying to get the penalty,” said twogoal hero Eric Lichaj.
“Vaughany (David Vaughan) told me politely-I won’t say what he said to me-to go away.” US international Lichaj opened the scoring for the home side with a header midway through the first half but Per Mertesacker equalised for the much-changed away team just three minutes later.
However, Forest continued to probe an inexperienced Arsenal line-up and got their reward just before half-time when Lichaj volleyed in spectacularly from the edge of the box. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, serving a touchline ban, was forced to watch powerless from the stands as Rob Holding conceded a penalty that teenager Ben Brereton converted in the 64th minute to stretch the home side’s lead to 3-1.
At Wembley, Harry Kane broke the deadlock against AFC Wimbledon with just under half an hour to go before Kane again and Jan Vertonghen made it 3-0 to put the game beyond the reach of the visitors. On Saturday, League Two Coventry City sent Premier League side Stoke City crashing out, prompting the sacking of Mark Hughes. — AFP