Arteta: We showed no hunger

MIKEL ARTETA accused his Arsenal players of lacking hunger after they were beaten by Nottingham Forest. Arsenal lost 1-0 to the Championship club, whose substitute Lewis Grabban scored the winner with seven minutes left. Embarrassingly, Arsenal did not have a shot on target all night and Arteta could not hide his frustration. ‘We needed more drive and hunger to win at any cost. We needed much more. I am really disappointed with the performance,’ he said. ‘Not with the attitude, but how much purpose we have and what determination we showed to change the game when it’s difficult. ‘It is frustrating but it happened and we have to analyse why. ‘I have been playing games like this for 18 years and it is no surprise the difficulties you are going to face. It is really hurting now. ‘It is a competition that is embedded in our history and to be out of it today is a big pain. We didn’t have enough incisiveness and determination and purpose to move the ball with enough quality. And when we had the chances, we didn’t hit the target.’ Arteta made changes to his usual team but still fielded a team of internationals and young talent. But Forest were so much superior early on that Arteta (right) took off 21-year-old left back Nuno Tavares after half an hour. The Portuguese reacted by throwing his gloves to the ground next to the dug-out. Afterwards Arteta said: ‘I just did it to try to win. I have to make the decision to try to improve the performance of the team when I see it is not going in any other direction. I don’t want to talk about individuals.’ Forest manager Steve Cooper only joined the club in September but has already moved them up the table. His reward for yesterday’s win is a fourth-round tie at home to East Midlands rivals Leicester next month. Cooper said: ‘I did feel comfortable. Someone said to me it must have been a long eight minutes after we scored. But I’ve had longer eight minutes. ‘I mean no disrespect (to Arsenal) by saying that. The players were engaged with what it took to win.’