FA Cup holders Arsenal fell to Championship side Nottingham Forest 4-2 on Sunday afternoon. The Premier League side went down a goal in the opening 20 minutes to an Eric Lichaj goal. However, Per Mertesacker levelled the match three minutes later. Lichaj struck once more in the 44th minute and Ben Brereton added a third from the penalty spot on 64 minutes. Danny Welbeck pulled one back for Arsenal 11 minutes from time, but Kieran Dowell struck from the spot in the 85th minute to seal a dramatic upset. Arsenal’s FA Cup exit comes after the Gunners had won three of the last four tournament trophies.
Arsenal’s FA Cup exit marked the first time that Arsene Wenger had been defeated in the third round in his Gunners’ career. Nottingham Forest are currently 14th in the Championship and going nowhere. Yet the manager-less team found a way to defeat an Arsenal second choice side.
“This has got to be something we build on,” Nottingham Forest’s caretaker manager Gary Brazil said to BT Sport following the win.
“This football club should be playing against the Arsenals of this world, and they should be beating them.
“These fans deserve to be watching Premier League teams and that’s what we’ve got to drive towards.”
Over 27,000 fans turned up to the City Ground to see the FA Cup third round match.
With Arsenal’s FA Cup exit still reverberating around the football world, fans of the beautiful game took to Twitter to express their agony or joy over the Gunners’ loss.
How did Twitter react to Arsenal’s FA Cup exit?
When Arsenal get knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round… #NFFC #AFC #FACup pic.twitter.com/CLjUvVTPyN
— The F2 (@TheF2) January 7, 2018
Why Arsenal lost? Look at the starting teams of Man United, Man City and Arsenal.
Why did Arsenal think that starting 11 team was good enough to beat a hungry championship team away from home?
Arsenal, you lost because you showed no respect to the team you’re playing. pic.twitter.com/UWuQG0PLzb— Akeem. (@akeemojuko) January 7, 2018
Just go, Wenger. You’ve dragged Arsenal into a never-ending mire of mediocrity & destroyed your once great legacy. Show some bloody self-respect man & GO. pic.twitter.com/AHhI6gGCuz
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 7, 2018
"Robbie, you have to remember that Nottingham Forest play in red, and that was most likely confusing to the players." pic.twitter.com/lkYV96pSEH
— The Front 3 (@TheFront3) January 7, 2018
Nottingham forest's kit looks like Bayern's kit. That's where the problem began.
— Guvnor (@GibbzBryan) January 7, 2018
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