English FA Cup Holders Arsenal Dumped Out By Championship Side Nottingham Forest
Arsenal were eliminated in the FA Cup third round for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s reign as they fell to a humiliating 4-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Right-back Eric Lichaj’s first-half brace, either side of Per Mertesacker’s scrambled equaliser, set Forest on course for the upset before Ben Brereton doubled the hosts’ advantage from the penalty spot.
Danny Welbeck gave the visitors hope just before full-time, but Kieron Dowell converted Forest’s second penalty with five minutes left.
Wenger, serving the first of a three-match touchline ban, was forced to watch from the stands as Forest tore through his four-man Arsenal defence from the off. Mertesacker’s last appearance in the FA Cup had seen him snuff out Diego Costa as Arsenal won the Final in May; this time he was being left hopeless by 18-year-old Brereton.

