Arsenal FC, defending champions of the England FA Cup are out, knocked out by Championship League team Nottingham Forest.
The London club were beaten 4-2 Sunday evening, a loss that will reawaken the campaign to ease the long serving manager, Arsene Wenger out of the club, although a touchline ban by the English FA made Wenger himself a spectator today.
Wenger nevertheless defended the team selection for the third round tie, in which he made nine changes to the side that drew with Chelsea in the Premier League in midweek
“We have many players on the edge and we play again on Wednesday,” he said. “When you don’t win the selection is always questioned.
“I believe we had an experienced team — eight or nine internationals. It would be easy to think that was the problem.
“When you’re against a team like that, they’re very difficult to beat. Defensively you cannot afford the mistakes we made.”
US international Eric Lichaj opened the scoring for the home side with a header midway through the first half but Per Mertesacker equalised for the 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’s Rob Holding conceded a penalty that teenager Ben Brereton converted in the 64th minute to stretch the home side’s lead to 3-1.
Danny Welbeck gave Arsenal hope with just over 10 minutes to go but Kieran Dowell netted from the penalty spot again to seal victory for the second-tier side over the Premier League visitors.
In a breathless final few minutes Forest’s Joe Worrall was sent off but it was too late for Arsenal to take advantage.
Nottingham Forest’s caretaker manager Gary Brazil said the result was something the former European champions could build on.
“This football club should be playing against the Arsenals of this world, and they should be beating them,” he added.
“These fans deserve to be watching Premier League teams and that’s what we’ve got to drive towards.”
In other matches played Sunday, Leeds were also dumped out of the tournament by Newport County.
West Ham stayed alive with a goalless draw at Shrewsbury and Tottenham scored three goals in eight second-half minutes to see off the challenge of League One side AFC Wimbledon.
