GUNNERS NOTT GOOD ENOUGH
Wenger slams Arsenal flops as Forest hand him worst cup defeat in 21-year reign
ARSENE WENGER tore into his players after suffering his worst FA Cup defeat as Arsenal manager.
The holders were dumped out by Nottingham Forest as the Frenchman lost at the third-round stage for the first time in his 21-year reign.
The Gunners boss pulled no punches as he claimed Arsenal were second best in every department and admitted it hurt him more than his players.
Wenger, who was watching from the directors’ box as he began his three-game touchline ban, said: “We were not good enough anywhere, not at the front, not in the middle, at the back and we paid for it.
“They looked sharper, they had more chances, that’s all I can say.
“Nottingham Forest had an outstanding performance today. It hurts very much. We won the FA Cup three times in the last four years and will not win every year. But it hurts to go out in the third round.
“During the game we repeated the same mistakes, and that’s where we are guilty today – once, twice, three times. And at this level you cannot afford that.
“I want to congratulate Forest. They were sharp, winning decisive challenges, always dangerous going forward and overall I would say they deserved to win, as simple as that.”
Eric Lichaj scored twice either side of Per Mertesacker’s leveller then penalties from Ben Brereton and Kieran Dowell sandwiched Danny Welbeck’s goal.
Wenger made nine changes to his starting line-up but insisted he had no option because of the demanding fixture schedule.
He also refused to blame referee Jon Moss for either of Forest’s two penalties or question if Dowell’s spot-kick should have stood when the Forest man slipped and may have taken two touches.
Wenger said: “I can understand the selection will be questioned but it would be a little bit of an easy excuse because we had eight or nine experienced internationals on the pitch.
“Even with all the respect we were playing against a Championship team and that would be the wrong excuse. “There are some days you have to say the opposition is better than us and Nottingham Forest were. “Unfortunately that was the case. That’s what is disappointing. On top of that we have another big game on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup and must focus on that. “The players complained about the second penalty but I didn’t see it. They said they’re 100 per cent certain he double touched it. “I will not talk about the referees. I think I’ve talked about that. And for the rest, nothing to add.”