Forest deserved to

Gunners boss hurting after surprise FA Cup exit

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 4 ARSENAL 2

Arsene Wenger lost an FA Cup thirdround tie for the first time as holders Arsenal crashed out against Nottingham Forest in an action-packed clash at the City Ground yesterday.

Wenger, who made nine changes to his starting line-up, has become the competition’s most successful manager, winning it seven times since taking charge of the Gunners in 1996, but the country’s longest-serving boss was undone by Forest caretaker manger Gary Brazil.

Eric Lichaj scored twice either side of Per Mertesacker’s equaliser before penalties from Ben Brereton and Kieran Dowell sandwiched Danny Welbeck’s goal in a 4-2 win for the Championship side.

Brereton tucked away the first penalty in the 64th minute after Rob Holding had brought down Matty Cash, and Dowell converted the second spot-kick after Mathieu Debuchy was adjudged to have fouled Armand Traore five minutes from the end.

Forest defender Joe Worrall was shown a straight red card in the 89th minute for his challenge on Chuba Akpom.

Wenger later refused to discuss the decisions to award two penalties to Forest as the Frenchman started his three-match touchline ban and watched on from the stands.

Wenger bit his tongue as he said: “I don’t want to talk about that. I’m tired about that.”

And he admitted the decision to make so many changes backfired.

“That’s the inevitable question comes in a cup game,” he added.

“We had many players on the edge and play on Wednesday again. We didn’t get away with it today.”

Forest have been struggling in the Championship but Wenger felt they were worthy winners.

“We played against a Nottingham Forest team that were very sharp and more dangerous than us,” he said.

“We were a bit unlucky as well but we lost too many challenges to win a game like that.”

Brazil was not surprised by his side’s victory and claimed Forest should be beating sides like Arsenal.

“It’s been a good day but I’ve got to pay a massive compliment to the players in terms of their application and quality at times,” said the Forest caretaker manager.

“I genuinely felt it was a game we could win, and as the game went on I felt it was a game we were going to win.

“Even when they got back to 3-2 I felt comfortable that we’d go on to win the game. They thoroughly deserved the win and all the praise they get.

“It’s got to be something we build on. This football club should be playing that against the Arsenals of should be beating them.

“These fans deserve to Premier League teams.”

Meanwhile Newport staged a dramatic late comeback to dump Leeds out of the cup with a 2-1 victory at Rodney Parade.

Leeds, 53 places higher on the league ladder than Newport, led for most of a full-blooded third-round encounter after Gaetano Berardi’s ninth-minute strike from distance found its way through.

But County equalised with 14 minutes left when Leeds defender Conor Shaughnessy – younger brother of St Johnstone defender Joe Shaughnessy – sliced the ball into his own net, and substitute Shawn McCoulsky’s soaring header sent them into the fourth round for the first time since the 1978-79 season.

Leeds were then reduced to 10 men when substitute Samuel Saiz was sent off for an off-the-ball incident, having allegedly spat at County midfielder Robbie Willmott.

Joe Hart ensured West Ham did not follow Leeds out of the competition as the top-flight side survived a scare at the goalkeeper’s former club Shrewsbury.

The hosts, second in Sky Bet League One, dominated for long spells and fully deserved another shot at the Hammers after a 0-0 draw.

Shrewsbury-born Hart, who began his career with the Shropshire side, saved well from Mat Sadler and Shaun Whalley, while Jon Nolan fired over late on.

We played against a Forest team that were very sharp and more dangerous than us. ARSENE WENGER

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