Underdogs Forest bring holders Arsenal to heel
Nottingham Forest Lichaj 20, 43, Brereton 65 pen, Dowell 85 pen 4 Arsenal Mertesacker 23, Welbeck 79 2 Att: 27,182
Every dog has his day and Nottingham Forest bounded to a magnificent FA Cup upset as they knocked out holders Arsenal in a raucous, rumbustious tie that left Arsene Wenger licking his wounds in embarrassment.
It was the first time that Wenger, in his 22 years as Arsenal manager, has lost in the third round of the FA Cup, a competition that has saved him in recent seasons as he has won it three times in the past four campaigns. But not this year.
Wenger sat helpless in the directors’ box – serving the first game of a three-match ban imposed for his recent refereeing comments – as his team capitulated.
That team bore nine changes from their previous Premier League match, but Arsenal were full of internationals and highly paid operators, including Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and captain Per Mertesacker. They were overrun and outdone.
There was also even what would have been one of the most bizarre little FA Cup tales – or tails – of all with Eric Lichaj revealing that had he added a third goal to the two he scored then his wife would have bought him a dog.
“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,” the American full-back said.
Indeed Lichaj attempted to negotiate taking the first of two second-half penalties that Forest were – correctly – awarded but was sent away with his tail between his legs by team-mate David Vaughan. Teenage striker Ben Brereton – who was superb throughout – took one and later said that Lichaj had been told in no uncertain terms to “get back in defence”.
Fortunately, Lichaj did not do that in the first half as he claimed two exceptional goals. There was, inevitably, controversy with Forest’s fourth as Arsenal cried foul that taker Kieran Dowell had “double-kicked” – striking the ball against his standing foot as he slipped – before his penalty hit the net.
If that was the case it should have been ruled out but referee Jonathan Moss, after consultation and fielding prolonged and bitter protests, let it stand. In fairness, Wenger did not attempt to let that overshadow the result or the performance. His team were well beaten and he admitted it.
Wenger even faced the ignominy of Arsenal going out to 10 men as Forest defender Joe Worrall was dismissed late on for a challenge on substitute Chuba Akpom.
But the harsh reality was that the best Arsenal player among the 11 who started was goalkeeper David Ospina, who kept them in it during the first half when Brereton – just 18 and 15 years younger than Mertesacker – tore apart Wenger’s unwise plan to play with a high defensive line.
For Forest, so starved of success, so becalmed in recent years, this was a famous victory and it came on the weekend of the 43rd anniversary of Brian Clough’s appointment as manager. This win does not go anywhere near his achievements but it has been slim pickings at the City Ground and they craved some good news.
So for caretaker manager Gary Brazil this was a brilliant result and a brilliant performance, although he made it clear that despite the faith he showed in the young players, with the likes of Brereton and 20-year-old Matty Cash outstanding, he will not be carrying on.
A permanent replacement for Mark Warburton, who was sacked on New Year’s Eve, the same day that Wenger was earning his touchline ban at West Bromwich Albion, is expected soon.
To his immense credit, Brazil ordered his team to go for it from the start and they deservedly went in front when they won a free-kick down their right. It was driven in hard and left-footed by Dowell with Lichaj charging in to head home from just a yard out. The inquest began. Where were the Arsenal defenders? Was Ospina slow to react?
The goalkeeper was certainly not at fault for the second. Again it was down the Forest right with Cash crossing and Walcott heading out under pressure from Brereton with the ball looping out of the area for Lichaj to run in, chest down and place a volley, arcing it high into the net. Again his celebrations were wildly exuberant.
Arsenal had quickly drawn level after Lichaj’s first goal with a freekick swung in by Walcott and headed against the post by Rob Holding with Mertesacker reacting first to stab it home. But it was Forest creating the opportunities until half-time after which Arsenal returned to finally apply some pressure.
It seemed that Forest, who could not retain the ball, would buckle but instead they broke out and earned a precious penalty with Holding clumsily catching Cash, after a heavy first touch. Arsenal protested but up stepped Brereton, nervelessly, to send Ospina the wrong way.
Arsenal were presented with a lifeline when Forest goalkeeper Jordan Smith hurtled out to deny Welbeck only to spill the ball for the striker to stroke it goalwards, trickling over the line.
Again the tension grew. Could Forest hold on? They did more than that with former Arsenal full-back Armand Traore bursting into the area and, just as he was set to shoot, he was brought down by Mathieu Debuchy. Another penalty – the fourth against Arsenal in a week. This time regular taker Dowell took it. With Arsenal howling, he struck the ball twice. But the referee did not bite on their bark.