Lewis Grabban’s late strike surprised Arsenal as Nottingham Forest dumped the Gunners out of the FA Cup.
The substitute sealed a 1-0 win for the Championship facet to e-book an East Midlands derby with Leicester within the fourth spherical.
Arsenal, 14-time winners, produced a disjointed efficiency which acquired what it deserved, with Forest greater than matching the guests to proceed their upward curve underneath Steve Cooper.
4 years in the past managerless Forest beat the Gunners 4-2 within the third spherical as Arsene Wenger’s reign meandered in the direction of its disappointing conclusion.
Arsenal might now be slowly stirring underneath Mikel Arteta however they suffered the identical destiny on the Metropolis Floor to point out loads of work is required.
They struggled to discover a well past organised Forest all through, with Eddie Nketiah lacking their finest probability and Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka closed down swiftly.
Nketiah and Ben White dragged off beam and Albert Lokonga had a shot deflect broad throughout a timid first half for the Gunners, sporting all white as a part of an anti-knife crime initiative.
Forest have been extra environment friendly in assault, even when they failed to check Bernd Leno and Arteta’s concern was clear when he hauled off Nuno Tavares after simply 34 minutes.
The defender, changed by Kieran Tierney, endured a sloppy half throughout which a wild again go nearly caught Leno out. His frustrations have been apparent, throwing his gloves to the bottom with out even glancing at his supervisor.
It was a irritating night time for Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta
(AFP through Getty Photographs)
It epitomised the untidy nature of the Gunners’ half – they have been removed from in management and Forest had proven glimpses of troubling them with their tempo.
Arsenal had loads of the ball however Forest have been by no means involved throughout an immediately forgettable first half – which might have suited the hosts, who restarted shortly after the break.
They carved out the sport’s first significant probability when Brennan Johnson left Cedric trailing on the fitting and crossed for Philip Zinckernagel to check Leno.
It was then Arsenal’s flip to spurn a superb probability when Saka teased Jack Colback and crossed for Nketiah.
The striker had pulled off the again of Joe Worrall and had a free header from six yards however managed to utterly miscue his effort and it rolled woefully broad.
The sport threatened to search out some life and James Garner’s free-kick was effectively saved by Leno simply after the hour as Forest pressed but it surely was all too transient.
Charlie Patino, on his full debut, was changed by Alexandre Lacazette having struggled to make a constant impression, however the identical may be stated for his teammates, who all lacked cohesion.
It was a tedious show which belied the Gunners’ current type. The hosts might sense their probability and when the breakthrough lastly got here with seven minutes left it was of Arsenal’s personal making.
Lokonga misplaced the ball within the midfield and Yates was slipped in down the fitting to supply the proper cross for Grabban to slip in and win it from six yards.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
