ARSENAL CRASH OUT
But would a video ref have spotted this dodgy two-touch penalty?
ALL THE FA CUP ACTION IN YOUR 20-PAGE VERDICT
No manager has won the Fa Cup more times than arsene Wenger and in recent years the famous old trophy has so often proved his salvation.
When the Premier League title started to slide out of reach and the Champions League guarantee vanished, it always remained a trusty companion.
Wenger has won the Cup seven times, including three in the last four seasons, but this was a painful end to the romance on the banks of the river Trent.
many times the arsenal boss has rested his stars, used fringe players and blooded youngsters in the domestic cup competitions.
Seldom, however, has he seen them blown away quite so comprehensively as this by a team from outside the top flight.
For the first time in more than 21 years in english football, Wenger tasted defeat in the Fa Cup third round. His team were simply unable to match nottingham Forest for aggression, energy and desire.
Forest led at half-time through two goals from full back eric Lichaj, added two penalties in the second half and survived the late dismissal of centre half Joe Worrall.
and experienced players such as David opsina, Per mertesacker, mohamed elneny, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott — most of them deployed down the spine of arsenal’s team — failed to get any grip on the game.
Wenger — serving a touchline ban — squirmed in his comfortable seat as he watched it all unfold and returned to London with the jubilant taunts of the Forest fans in the stand still ringing in his ears.
arsenal’s second string performed feebly, lacking composure up front and vulnerable at the back as they conceded four to a Forest side without a permanent manager and wallowing in the depths of the Championship.
There was nothing the arsenal manager could do but swallow his medicine, reference a demanding fixture list and his running battles with officialdom and move briskly on to the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
nottingham Forest and their caretaker manager gary Brazil deserve to bask in victory. Forest opened with terrific energy and lifted the home crowd as a young strikeforce caused problems with their pace and mobility.
Teenage striker Ben Brereton was too much for centre halves mertesacker and rob Holding.
The Championship team took the lead midway through the first half with a close-range header by Lichaj after a free-kick delivered from the Forest right by the excellent Kieran Dowell.
The lead lasted only three minutes before an untidy equaliser was conceded from a free-kick in a similar position on the arsenal left.
Walcott took the set-piece and his cross was headed against a post by Holding before mertesacker pounced to stab the rebound across the line.
mertesacker lifted the trophy after an heroic defensive display against Chelsea at Wembley in may and his goal ought to have stabilised this tie for the holders.
Instead, Forest came again, seizing control in midfield and grabbing a crucial second goal before the interval.
matty Cash’s cross from the right was flicked on by Brereton and both Walcott and Holding missed opportunities to clear. Holding’s header reached Lichaj on the edge of the penalty box and the american full back took the ball down on his chest before firing home a sweet volley.
Having scored four goals in his previous 181 appearances, Lichaj suddenly had two goals inside half an hour. He made a cheeky bid for a hat-trick when Forest were awarded a penalty for a trip by Holding on Cash.
‘my wife said if I score a hat-trick anytime this season I would get a dog, so I was trying to get the penalty,’ said Lichaj. ‘ I won’t repeat what Ben said to me but he told me “no, sorry”.’
Brereton converted with confidence to give Forest a 3-1 lead. Welbeck pulled a goal back after a mistake by goalkeeper Jordan Smith, who appeared to have claimed the ball easily as he slid out at the arsenal striker’s feet. Somehow it slithered from his grasp and rolled to Welbeck, who gratefully sidefooted a shot into an unguarded net.
Former arsenal full back armand Traore then burst forward, only to be cut down by mathieu Debuchy as he prepared to shoot. again, moss pointed to the spot.
This time it was Dowell who stepped up to sweep the ball high into the net, although there were suspicions he had kicked the ball twice as he slipped.
Forest’s celebrations were interrupted when referee moss went to talk to one of his assistants amid protests from arsenal players, but the discussion between the officials appeared inconclusive and the goal stood.
even a red card for Worrall for a foul on Chuba akpom failed to spoil a memorable win at the City ground.