Holders Arsenal crash out of Cup to Nottingham Forest

Tuesday, 9 January 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

LONDON (Reuters): FA Cup holders Arsenal suffered their first third round defeat for 22 years as they crashed to 4-2 defeat by second-tier Nottingham Forest in a sizzling City Ground clash on Sunday.

The Gunners, fielding a much-changed side from the one that drew with Chelsea in midweek and with manager Arsene Wenger watching from the stands because of a touchline ban, trailed 2-1 at halftime as Eric Lichaj scored twice. Penalties by Ben Brereton and Kieran Dowell sealed victories for Forest who sacked manager Mark Warburton a week ago.

Per Mertesacker had equalised for Arsenal in the first half and Danny Welbeck pulled Arsenal back to 3-2 down with 12 minutes left but the Premier League side could have few complaints at a bitter exit.

A youthful Forest, with seven players aged 23 or under, ended the tie with 10 men after Joe Worrall was shown a red card near the end for a foul on Chuba Akpom.

It did little to detract from the party atmosphere alongside the River Trent though as Forest’s success-starved fans celebrated a rare day of glory.

There were boos from some of the Arsenal fans at the end after watching their side concede four goals to lower league opposition in the FA Cup for the first time since 1908.

It was also Wenger’s first taste of a third round exit.