Friday, March 29, 2024

Report: Nottingham Forest 4-2 Arsenal (inc. goals)

Starting XI: Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Holding, Nelson, Willock, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Walcott, Welbeck

Subs: Macey, Chambers, Osei-Tutu, DaSilva, Jeff, Akpom, Nketiah

__

Arsenal have crashed out of the FA Cup at the third round stage for the first time of Arsene Wenger’s tenure as Nottingham Forest won 4-2 at the City Ground. A weakened Gunners side were awful on the day and even though the home side secured victory courtesy of two second half penalties it was hard to deny that they deserved their win.

Per Mertesacker cancelled out Eric Lichaj’s opener only for the American to restore City’s advantage before the break. That lead was extended by Ben Brereton’s spot-kick on 64 minutes before Welbeck gave the Gunners a glimmer of a replay. Those hopes were extinguished in the final minute as Dowell converted again from 12-yards.

First half

From the outset it became apparent that Nottingham Forest’s strategy would be to try and get the ball behind Per Mertesacker as often as possible.

The German, with Debuchy to his right and Holding partnering him in the middle of a four man defence, looked ill at ease against the pace of Ben Brereton, an 18-year-old England youth international. Within five minutes the striker stole onto a loose ball by Elneny, meant for Mertesacker, and shot at Ospina.

Arsenal should have taken confidence from the fact that Forest have the fourth worst defence in the Championship but they struggled to click in the final third. When Walcott made it through on goal on 6 minutes he could only scuff his effort. When Welbeck headed a Walcott cross, it went well wide.

The home side continued to grow into the game and the Gunners were thankful to Ospina for a brilliant save to deny Matty Cash at full stretch down to his right on 17 minutes.

Two minutes later the home side took the lead. A free-kick, won near the by-line just outside the left side of Arsenal’s box, was smashed to the near post by Dowell and Eric Lichaj, on top of Ospina, crashed the ball home with his head from on the line. Questions have to be asked of the Gunners defending. The wall kept Lichaj on side and the keeper was beaten at his near post. (1-0)

The response from the Gunners was immediate. Nelson won a free-kick, Walcott whipped it into the box, Holding headed onto the post and Mertesacker pounced on the rebound to slot home. We didn’t really deserve it. (1-1)

Arsenal toiled in midfield and while Nelson and Maitland-Niles showed flashes of their burgeoning talent, the performances of Welbeck, Walcott and Iwobi were way below par. The latter had a couple of attempts but his finishing, not for the first time, was wayward.

At the other end, the home side continued to push forward with pace and twice more the Gunners had to rely on Ospina to dig them out. First, he dived to his right to deny Brereton who’d skipped inside Mertesacker. Not long after he denied the youngster again after he’d latched onto a simple ball over the top. The BFG was really struggling.

With momentum on their side, the home side snatched the lead just before the break and again it was Lichaj who did the damage. Walcott initially did well to clear a cross to the back post but when the ball fell to Holding he headed it to the edge of the box where the American defender controlled with his chest and volleyed into the top corner. Ospina didn’t move. (2-1)

Arsene Wenger, watching from the stands due to a touchline ban, was quick to make his way to the dressing room. Second half

Arsenal were brighter after the restart, but still infuriating to watch. On the right, Debuchy looked to get the ball into the box as quickly as possible. On the left, we were more intricate, with Nelson and Maitland-Niles trying to pass their way through the Forest defence. Neither tactic managed to get the ball to the strikers.

At the other end, Brereton met Walker’s cross at the near post but Holding did just enough to deflect the ball for a corner. The reprieve was temporary.

Brereton finally got his goal after Arsenal conceded a penalty for the third consecutive game. There was no controversy this time. Holding’s clumsy challenge on Cash was definitely a foul. The young striker sent Ospina the wrong way to make it 3-1.

Wenger’s response was to remove Willock and put on Nketiah. The gallows humour of the travelling fans had them singing, “We’re fucking shit.” It was hard to deny the sentiment given the performance.

Nketiah did force a save from Smith in the Forest goal, but the fact it was our first attempt on target aside from the goal said much.

With 12 minutes left, Arsenal got a lifeline. Iwobi’s through ball looked to have been claimed by Smith but under pressure from Welbeck he spilt the ball and the England international slotted home. (3-2)

Could we find an equaliser? Welbeck threw himself at a Maitland-Niles cross as the Gunners chased an unlikely equaliser. He claimed a penalty having gone toe-to-toe with Mancienne. It was waved away.

Just to rub salt in the wounds, Jon Moss decided that the home side should have another penalty of their own. Debuchy, chasing Armand Traore, tackled the former Gunner from behind as he raced into the box. He seemed to get the ball. The Penalty was given anyway. Kieran Dowell stepped up, slipped and the ball flew into the top of the net. Did he kick the ball twice? If he did, the goal should have been ruled out. Moss conferred with the linesman It was given. (4-2)

Arsenal were incensed. Mertesacker and Ospina went in the book, as did Debuchy for the challenge. With tempers rising, the home side then went down to ten men as Joe Worrall picked up two yellow cards in the space of 45 seconds. Amazingly, only four minutes of injury time was shown. We were done for.

Chuba Akpom had a glorious chance to make it 4-3 but one-on-one with the keeper his effort was tipped just wide. It pretty much summed up an awful day for the Gunners. There will be no trip to Wembley in May.

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Maniac

Amazingly our performance was only the third worst thing today, having been overtaken by both Savage’s commentary on BT Sport and Fat Moss’ officiating. Biggest shambles I’ve seen in a long, long time.

The Loon Ranger

I thought pantomime season was over but having watched this I see I was wrong. What a fckn joke. As so often happens the opposition wanted it more.

Maniac

Also good thing that VAR gets trialed tomorrow in the Palace game when it was needed today. Thanks FA!

Too Drunk To Be Offside

Sack that fking clown that is Arsenal’s manager already. #Notmymanager

Look on the bright side. Atleast there will be no too many fixtures issues to hamper the club’s slide into comfortable mid-table mediocrity. #6thplaceisatrophy

Jean Ralphio

Yes, we played shit. But this is the first time we exited the competition under Wenger in the Third round. If we had won the FA cup you would have wanted Wenger sacked for only winning the FA cup. Europa League and fourth place are our priority this season.

Twisted cuntloks

This was one of our best chances to win something this season. The team put out today should have been good enough to get some kind of result but when you look at the back up on the bench that told the story of Wenger’s thinking.

Does Wenger still think we are ‘fantastic’ ?
Delusion springs to mind…

Stuck on repeat...

Why bother with going for 4th place? We’re currently no where near good enough to be in the CL (incl in my opinion even the group stage). Even if somehow we did get out of a group, we’re out in the next round at best. But it’s “not about the money”. If we really REALLY must get into the CL…throw everything at Europa & win it. That way we at least get a trophy, plus we get the same end result of being back in the CL. “We’re shit, & we know we sre…”. Beyond embarrasing,..& that’s before the window… Read more »

Twisted cuntloks

Perhaps our supporters can start seeing why so many players are now running down their contract. They want out, they clearly don’t believe in Wenger just like 50% of Arsenal supporters (or maybe more now after that glorious fuck up).

If the players did believe in Wenger there would be queues at his office door to get a new contract…just like good old permacrock Jack.

The Limp Bar

Don’t mind people wanting AW to go or having a pop, but that notmymanager hashtag is one of the most pathetic things I’ve ever seen

Greg

Up there with the #fbpe cunts

Mizog

You beat me to it!! Well said
Fucking clowns

Kev

Did you see the game today?

Crash Fistfight

I’d say at least there won’t be an FA Cup win to give the illusion that Arsene Wenger is a competent manager any more and he might be given his marching orders, but I can’t see Stan Kroenke acting with any sort of decisiveness.

He’ll just sit on his asset, whilst the share price goes up due to the next big TV deal. Meanwhile the relative asset value in comparison with other top 6 clubs decreases as we slowly decay towards mid-level mediocrity.

Joel+Carter

#Notmymanager?

Off you go to Man City then…

Too Drunk To Be Offside

Y don’t you fk off to city. I support Arsenal, but the manager is a clown. Arsenal FC not Arsene FC.

#Notmymanager but still #myclub

ForeignGooner

Maybe you’re too drunk to think.

Too Drunk To Be Offside

You are right, when I sober up, I will be drowned in my own shame for ever having questioned Arsene the 4thplacefinisher, and immediately shoot off a letter to the Arsenal board not only apologising for wanting Wenger sacked for the past 5 years but also begging the Board to give Wenger a million year contract.

ForeignGooner

I’m also tired of Wenger and want him gone, but I won’t let emotions cloud my judgement and wouldn’t put all the blame on him.

Cagooner

Who else is to blame for today’s performance?

David C

the players are to blame. How do you let a guy stand right in front of your keeper on a free kick? Holding or Mert could have closed down the shot for their 2nd.

I can’t all just be the managers fault…

KongoKim

Holding, Mertesacker, walcott, iwobi , welbz, moss… to name just a few although i think we should have had this lineup in the coconut cup. Welbz looked like a new born giraffe, walcott who has completely lost hunger and skills, holdings choice making, that mert pass to set the run of traore. ..forreal mate..so many wrongs

Mizog

Clown

Too Drunk To Be Offside

Clown, c*nt a$$h*le joke lame and any other insult you can think, feel free to do so and post them here. However I assure you that I am not the reason why $400 mil in the past 5 seasons later, the club hv gone from fighting for 4th to fighting for 6th.

I just want the person responsible to be fired. However people like you who would continue to merrily sit on the WengerIn bandwagon even if he took Arsenal to a relegation in a few years, do need to take a long hard look at yourselves.

Mizog

Clown

Too Drunk To Be Offside

Putting the Wenger thing aside, I am just in awe of your vocabulary. You are quite the wordsmith. What other words do you know?

Mizog

Massively clown

Ausdrexler

Again with the 400m thing. As has been proven previously, thats only the 6th best spend in EPL over last 5 years, and as a result Arsenal sit 6th.. no surprises there. 400m these days gets ya a couple decent players. 10 years ago it got you the best team in the world. If your gunna pop a stat to justify your hatred of the manager, atleast provide some context.

Jozzer

Pathetic. Grow up.

Mizog

Clown

Tad1979

I tend to agree these days. But who should we hire exactly?

Too Drunk To Be Offside

Someone who is known for getting a defence to not leak goals. Simeone ideally, but the way it stands even Allardyce and Sean Dyche would be improvements on Wenger.

Not the perfect replacements, but improvements they will be.

Dan Hunter

For £10m-£15m per year – Allegri, Simeone or, dare I say, Pochettino

Santori

Regression.

Further away from 4th spot.

No title.

No FA cup.

I won’t count on the Europa either.

Hey at least Wenger is prioritising the mickey mouse League cup.

SizC

We need to start a crowd funding appeal to raise £20m that is desperately needed for Southampton to buy Walcott!

Voldermort

yeah because this was all theo’s fault. Blame wenger he picked the team he gave walcott a 120k week contract, he accepts mediocrity.
But yeah blame walcott because its popular on this site. ffs
terrible team selection from top to bottom

Post January Blip

I’m not buying the whole ‘weakened side’ argument purely because we had enough on paper at least to get us over the line. The reason we lost today is the same reason why we’ve been struggling in the league of late – our inability to defend and impotence up front. As simple as that. As much as I love him, Per really did look like a man in his final season in professional football. Rob Holding had one of those games that he’ll really have to pick himself up from as there’s no hiding place at this level. This team… Read more »

Flashin\' Sammy Nelson

WHOAR, FLETCH! DID YER SEE THAT?!?! DID YER??!!!

WORRAN AMAAEEEZIN’ CUP TIE!!!!!!!!

ClockEndRider

Spot on.

Easy tiger

I am inn….

Fireman Sam

Good idea. Sooner we offload Walcott the better. 120k a week for a guy to jog aimlessly alongside his opponent is a joke. I can’t remember seeing any other footballer want the ball less.

Greg

You’ll be had to know that lessons will have been learned from this

Dan Hunter

Good thing we are out of the one thing that would have kept Wenger in a job.

SizC

You’re happy that we are out???

Easy tiger

Not happy, but glad it is less Wenger games to watch. I ve seen every game for the odd 28 years, and now is the worst since maybe 95 when we scores a total of 45 goals in a season under Graham…

Flashin\' Sammy Nelson

Count yourself lucky, Tiger. Some of us remember the end days of Terry Neill….which were remarkably similar to this. Followed by Don Howe’s manful but ultimately futile attempt to drag performances out of the squad Neill left behind. Walsall at home in the League Cup 4th round, 1983….knocked out. Middlesbrough away in the FA Cup 3rd round, 1984…knocked out. York away in the FA Cup 4th round, 1985…knocked out. Oxford away in the League Cup 3rd round, 1985…knocked out. There’s more of course…versus Luton in the 1988 League Cup final, Wrexham away in 1992…the difference being, George Graham’s teams in… Read more »

goongot

Well this season would be great if we win europa and fa…lol

We are not going to win anything this season and probably gona finish 6th

Wenger pls say your good-bye’s along with ozil sanchez and let us give new manager a 100 million transfer budget (lol).

Yagaru

All these fuckwits still thumbing down any negative comments about Wenger!! You sad deluded cunts must like mediocrity.

ForeignGooner

Maybe they still can distinguish between criticism and insults?

Easy tiger

That is the problem. Evrything is so polite at arsenal. That is part of the reason why there is room for players like welbeck, Walcott, debuchy, etc. No one is really trying to improve this team. It dosnt help with insults, but it doesnt hurt neither…

eternalflamini

Yeah mate keep calling other arsenal fan cunts… that way we will all agree with you.

I Didn\'t See It

100 mill in today’s market gets you ONE good player, (just about). Just saying….

goongot

Yeah tht fcking savage when forest 18yr old striker dives on holding’s push – ” that was good play from the bloke, well done ” .. Wow i mean appreciating the dive.

Pedant

Walcott, Welbeck, Debuchy, Per all poor plus too many youngsters. Another dodgy pen though.

First loss in the third round for Wenger. Forest deserved it.

Stringer+Bell

It ain’t a surprise when our arrogant deluded has been of a manager picks that team and that bench. City, Chelsea, united, enen the scum at home to Wimbledon played Kane and a few others and had Ali and other first teasers on bench. So many of you seemed ok with selection before game. Hindsight a wonderful gift hey. Please go Wenger

Ausdrexler

I suspect the team that lines up vs Chelsea on Weds will be near full strength. He has to prioritise.

Santori

NO leader ship from senior players.

Holding poor. Debuchy poor.

Walcott none existent.

Elneny is mediocre as is Welbeck.

We were facing a very young side struggling in lower half of championship with no recognised manager.

But we decided to prioritise for the mickey mouse league cup instead…at least I hope we have.

Deano

After that performance we’d be lucky to get £30 for Walcott from Southampton, forget about £30million…..

ramgooner

@Deano

I think he is worth £30million for Soton. He is just too shit to play for us. Those are two very different things. I mean Soton will get a guy with 10 years of CL and PL experience and he will also fill their homegrown quota. Where else in the world will you get a player like this.

Deano

Half agree with you ramgooner, but I don’t think he’s good enough for them either. I hope for the players sake he is, but he is lazy and lack the courage to mix it with opposition players especially central defenders. Truth is he is just fast with a decent finish, and them players are ten a penny in the premier league these days.

Flashin\' Sammy Nelson

Not sure about the decent finish bit, Deano.

Our ‘Feo hasn’t curbed the habit, after ten years, of spraying it like a territorial raccoon.

ramgooner

Not going to moan about the pen today (although VAR would have obviously ruled it out) as Forest thoroughly deserved the win.
Can we not ask Theo and Welbeck to sit back at home and collect their pension because let’s be real we are running a club for pensioners and big club rejects who are holding us to ransom. Also, our academy players are light years away from first team. It doesn’t matter where they play on the pitch they are too shit to start for us.

Dan Hunter

The first one was a pen, sorry to burst your bubble.. Debuchy got the man then the ball. The man’s leg was between debuchys leg and the ball. It was physically impossible for Debuchy to get the ball without getting a piece of the man first

Crash Fistfight

What about the fact the player kicked it with his left foot onto his right?

Fireman Sam

Most of us groaned when we bought Welbeck. Sadly we’ve been proved right. Nice chap, works hard but just not good enough.

Adam

Wenger has nowhere to hide after this pathetic display, no excuses this time. He took a bet with his squad selection and he lost it badly. What was his resting 1st team players for? League cup on Wednesday? Ridiculous. And why on earth did he not put Alexis, Ozil and others on the bench just in case? FA cup was the one last thing that excited me this season, sorry but i cannot give a fuck anymore about the heroic fight for top four neither thursday evenings. This looks like what can be a really worst season in Wenger’s tenure,… Read more »

ronaldo

ha, wenger had nowhere to hide before this result

Ayush Jain

I just cant watch Arsenal anymore. Today was a final nail in the coffin for us. I hope Sanchez doesnt signs nor does Ozil, while Welbeck is not even half as GIroud. Debuchy didnt cared today like he wants to be sold. while Steve Bould and Arsene Wenger should be sacked, enough is enough, Dont know what Steve Bould is there to do. He is just like a ketchup which is served with everything. Wenger would clearly bemoan about penalties and not performance which is always like this. COutinho is worth 140 Million and our whole team would be worth… Read more »

Dan Hunter

There’s no space left on the coffin for nails

Jagger

Hang on, why is resting 1st team players for a semi final league cup match on Wednesday against Chelsea ridiculous?

Adam

Because fa cup is 100 times more important than the league cup.

Jagger

Why though? It is a knock out tournament like the league cup. The same teams participate in it. The same teams usually end up winning it.

In fact, I would argue that, due to the double leg semi finals, it is harder than the FA cup. So why is the FA cup perceived by fans as being more important or prestigious?

Dan Hunter

History

Ausdrexler

I think the FA Cup as a whole, is a far more prestigious event to win. But you wouldnt sacrifice a SF in the League Cup when we had a struggling championship team in 3rd round of the FA. I think Arsene did the right thing, resting key players for the SF and believing the 2nd strinegrs could win vs NF. Turns out he was wrong, that team of players let themselves, the manager and the fans down today. I have never been critical if the guys gave their all and we were beaten by a better team, today though… Read more »

Jagger

That’s my thinking as well. Why on earth would one jeopardize a semi final place in one cup to ensure a victory against a lower tier opposition in a cup that has just started for you?

goongot

Once again referring was sub-par but we were totally shit once again at defense.No complaints about this loss and wenger widout any of the 1st teamers on the bench has to be totally held guilty for this shit.
Holding and mertesacker goddamn who was the slowest amongst them..
Well wenger making sure there’s no more match congestion..

Good to start a monday with every other fooball follower making a mockery of us…

Well played forest.

Bob davis

What an extraordinary game! We’re not getting anything from referees these days.

Clearly it was two touches on their penalty that made it 4-2. Injuries have really effected us.

We were always going to struggle with Welbeck and Walcott. Holding had a game to forget. Forest did deserve to win.

The Lazy Slug

And it wasn’t even a penalty to start with

A Different George

It was two touches, so the goal was not scored. But it probably was a penalty. Debuchy got the ball, but also the man, and that sort of tackle from behind is almost always called a foul in the past fifteen years.

Ayush Jain

Still we played poorly and the players didnt need motivation today like they are playing every week. Pathetic performance. Make some experience signings please. Atleast we have community shield this year 🙁

Vedant

Oh My God stop moaning about referees every time! Fine. Even if it wasn’t a penalty we would’ve lost 4-3.

Carabao Semi

Injury? Is Laca, Ozil or even Sanchez injured? What are they being reserved for? I saw pogba, lukaku, hazard, morata, aguero and even shitty kane all playing for their shitty clubs because they wanted to win, yet we reserve our own so called best players. Wenger was quoted as saying this is the most difficult stage of the FA cup but yet still took the opposition for granted. He better field all available players who are being paid to play in the carabao semis or he will lose his last supporter in me. #wengerwasdrunkandboozed.

Don’t care

Hahaha… starts crying

H2k

Well played Forest. You deserved that. Maitland-Niles, Nelson and Nketiah were the only ones who actually showed up at all today. Just not good enough. We have seen poor performances lately, but that was just embarrassing. This team is missing a core, heart, and drive, and if that does not change soon, we should all get used to displays like this. I really hope Arsene and the board DO NOT look at poor refereeing decisions in todays game (the award of 2nd pen, the double kick penalty, Forest keeper handling outside box) and use it as excuses. The only reason… Read more »

TR7 > CR7

4 minutes of added time aye? Fuck off.

Why do referees ALWAYS FUCKING REWARD TIME-WASTING?

Time to bring in 30 minute halves with clock stoppages like rugby.

Santori

You could add 40 minutes of extra time and we won’t score.

Welbeck extremely fortunate the keeper slipped.

Otherwise we created precious little, Walcott is as sharp as a blunt eraser.

Nobody creative enough for us.

Relying on Iwobi is ridiculous, he’s a young lad who frankly should be playing deeper in midfield.

Never mind the penalties, we weren’t up for a fight against teenagers playing bottom half of the championship.

Timorous Me

You’re probably right, but that doesn’t mean that the decision to give only four minutes wasn’t complete nonsense.

Sheffield Gooner

Well done Mr Wenger. Hope you’re pleased with yourself.

Stringer+Bell

There you go Sheffield. He got what he deserves. His arrogance knows no bounds

Santori

He’s ego has got in the way.

Thinking of the match up against Conte in the mickey mouse league cup instead.

The priority should have been this game in the FA cup.

He will of course blame the refereeing conspiracy theory instead of reinforcing from market like we should be doing.

Little Britain and academy will carry us through when Alexis and Ozil depart. Someone will step up…

Fireman Sam

To be fair, in his post match interview he didn’t seem to blame the referee.

wash_dc_gunner

Well done, Forest. They wanted it more (what’s that, Theo?) and deserve to advance. I don’t think any of our players did anything to prove they should be involved more in the first team, rather the opposite. With very few exceptions I think the lot should be moved on.

Santori

If anything it serves to illustrate a number of our players are not far off Armand Traore or Michael Mancienne.

Don

End this and sack Wenger before he embarrasses the club further.

Fireman Sam

Wishful thinking I’m afraid

Christopher Wreh

That was bad

Runcorn Gooner

Some of the senior players were an absolute disgrace. The arrogant way they played was appalling. TW 14 transfer fee just went down a few million.

Can’t remember when I was so annoyed at the lack of effort put in.

Don’t blame the ref this time. We were an absolute shambles.

Santori

Tell me we should not be spending 50m for Mahrez.

Let Liverpool have him instead.

We have enough creativity and invention on this team without Ozil and Alexis.

Welbeck and Walcott, Elneny great players.

Donald\'s Trump

TW14’s transfer fee must be £ -10060500 bazillion

ronaldo

BAD…….

Sean

Was going to make a comment about the line-up earlier on, but didn’t want to do the doom and gloom thing before the match had started. But fuck it, Wenger got exactly the result he deserved from a completely uninspiring team selection. Yes this group of players may have won a few cup matches, but it’s been clear from the performances that it’s just not a very good line-up. Wenger used to use these matches to really give young players a chance, but now he just reduces them to supporting roles at the expense of underwhelming performers who have already… Read more »

Santori

Won’t make a difference. Fundamental issues in defending still there. Putting AMN in midfield disguises the capability gap we have been refusing to address since Santi went out injured 3 seasons ago. Relying on Walcott or Welbeck to step up when Alexis and Ozil are threatening to leave illustrates the technical paucity in the squad. Holding and Chambers are half baked but we have decided to rely on them this season instead letting an improving Gabriel leave. We were even almost about to let Mustafi leave and he is one of our better options. If Wenger thinks his little Britain… Read more »

Atom

New players aren’t going to fix what’s wrong with this team. I’m all for new signings – as long as they are made by Minslitat / Sanhelli with an eye on the team post Wenger leaving. The last thing we need is Wenger spending a huge chunk of money on players that we don’t really have any idea how they will fit into the team.

Xhaka+Demus,+no+Pliers

Is anyone surprised by our ability to under perform anymore?

George+Wang

Championship opposition.

Concedes four goals. Scores 2 lucky goals from 2 opposition mistakes.

Less shot on target than opposition goals.

We are fucking shit.

themightybun

Fewer, but yeah, that was a very uninspiring, risk-adverse, by the numbers, lineup.

Frank

Not even just Championship opposition but a team full of championship youngsters. 7 of their starting 11 under 23. Embarassing

ronaldo

oh, you have just noticed have you

Fan

Let’s not turn this into a Walcott (or any individual player) hating party. The team had no structure from the outset. There was, painfully, no defensive or offensive plan. Obviously we thought they would lie down and hand us the tie. Who knew they’d be up for it.

Crash Fistfight

Not sure why it would be a Walcott hating party. He was better than most of the other players on our team. Of course, because a couple are the next big thing they can do no wrong, obviously.

Serpent

There being no defensive nor offensive plan doesn’t really come as a surprise. It’s been like this since 2012 (or more)…

Santori

Walcott was anonymous.

For a senior player, you’d expect more.

If we are reliant on him to step up creatively when Alexis leaves or Ozil, we are in trouble.

He is a one trick pony.

We are fundamentally lacking in technical depth even with Alexis and Ozil.

Hi-brid

Utter shit – and please don’t embarrass us further by even mentioning the penalty incident today Arsene.

Frank

This is obviously what happens when you speak up against the refs, they all gang up on you until you shut up. Can’t stand Savage as well, obviously not a pen and obvious from how he struck it and where the ball ended up that it was a double touch. Having said that we were so shit, barely created any decent chances and terrible defending. Wenger has some explaining to do.

Dusko

Plonkers

Flashin\' Sammy Nelson

yep, eleven Rodneys all right.

Original Paul

The “elephant in the controversy room” is our first team would have probably lost as well! 🙁

Wade Wilson

Don’t let the woeful non performance of a few individuals disguise the fact the officiating was worse.
F.a and refs find it to easy

BringBackSeaman

Agreed – It doesn’t matter how shit you’re playing, and despite playing particularly shite today we still were at 3-2…. the officials must do better. Their decisions change games, and this season Arsenal have had absolutely nothing from them.

Imagine if Ref’s had to do match interviews after the game and when asked, “Why did you give that penalty?”, do you think the response : “…Ah but your playing shite at the minute anyway so whats it matter” would be acceptable?

Vedant

One call was debatable and still we would’ve lost 4-3. But hey why would you not take the chance to deflect from the obvious shit show that our team presented us. Carry on blaming the ref just like the manager. See where that takes you.

BringBackSeaman

Who said anything about deflecting, I’m pointing out Arsenal were crap, and so was the ref (again).

Now if I had said… “hey, we were beaten by the Ref poor decision”, you would have a point… but I never. So get back in your box.

Per

Let’s do better in the Europa League…

GiddyForZelalem

And its not like we even lost against an exprienced Championship side like when we lost to Wednsday in the league cup. This Forest side was full of youngsters too, Bereton, Dowell, Worrall, Smith, Cash. This was a contest between which two set of youngsters wanted to assert themselves more, and we came out second fiddle. But thats not to excuse the veterans who, when playing with youngsters need to step up. Mertesacker was….just….I mean he’s always been slow but…wow. And Holding playing alongside a shaky veteran just made him lose confidence and his performance and mentality deteriorated as the… Read more »

Bertieme

Incredibly poor, slow paced and defensively dreadful. Wellbeck, Walcott and Iwobi utterly ineffectual. Debuchy should be given to the Baggies. Nobody (apart from ANM) should be anywhere near the first team on this showing. It really is a new low.

Jasonissimo

Naive from everyone in the Arsenal team. Defended with all the tactical nous of a pick-up team. Same for the passing–littered with cheap give-aways and hospital balls. Really unbelievable… is how I would have described the performance from any other club with aspirations of achieving anything.

Gunnerer

The defending is just so consistently shit! Can’t be blaming the youngsters in the mid field and Welbz and Walcott too much if we’re going to defend this way.
Holding was absolutely shit. And the penalties seemed legit to me. In summation, we deserved to lose. Its one thing to give a chance to younger talent, but not working on the defensive shambles is unacceptable.

Obasang

Seriously how much more shit can the defence get? What the fuck is wrong with Wenger? Does he even do defensive training? It’s getting more and more atrocious. The worst part of the game is we are going to hear no end to Wenger’s whining about how refrees are against his team. Yes it was a terrible decision but we didn’t lose because of it. Pathetic and embarrassing performance.

PBM

Welbeck and Walcott couldn’t even hold on to the ball…awful. Mertesacker awful. Holding awful. El Neny and Iwobi no influence and no conviction to try to make something happen.
Only bright spots were AMN and Reiss Nelson. They can hold their heads up…

Average Joe

Also, you could smell “I want to leave” in Debuchy’s tracking back the entire fucking game. Pen or no aside, he just didn’t want to do that at all… So why would Wenger play that kind of a player is beyond reason!!

Obasang

To be fair to Wenger, he didn’t blame the referee in his post match interview and even acknowledged the side’s piss poor performance. At least something.

Man Manny

I hope Arsene does not something stupid about officiating in this game. These lame duds were outfought in every department of the game. How useless was Elneny? The less said about headless-chicken Iwobi, the better. Mert, Holding, Debuchy, were collectively atrocious as a defensive unit. Was Walcott on the pitch at all? Horrible, horrible performance from a horrible team!

Sank

I was travelling and couldnt get any updates. Finding the final score, thank god I was travelling.

ShyteArse

Fair play to Forest- some nice stuff, well deserved win.

Seriously, just how fukn shyte are Arsenal gonna get?

George

It is what it is, but what this has shown/confirmed is that none of Welbeck, Walcott, or Iwobi are good enough for us if we want to be the kind of team capable of challenging for major trophies.

I need new nails

We crap yes but how the hell can do Many decisions go against us which then means we lose confidence..the last pen was crazy they got a pen that wasn’t and then they get the benefit of the double kick?? Law of averages means you get one big decision go your way ??? 4 pens in 3 games says it all

Gilberto Silva

Yet another embarrassment, players are not fit to wear the shirt. The selection was all wrong, way too complacent, but there were international players in that team, should’ve been more than enough to win. Don’t want to see Mertesacker, Welbeck, Walcott or Iwobi wear the shirt again, Willock, Holding and Debuchy were dismal too. Dreadful, but unfortunately not a surprise at this stage.

Mootilated

Well; this is what happens when you play a bunch of kids and first-team rejects eh?

Jean Ralphio

There was enough quality in that team to win that game. We just played shit. Forest were inspired with especially that second goal, and they were helped by Mr Moss. Should have gone with 4 at the back, that’s where I blame Wenger.

Anonymarse

Should have had some better players on the bench …

Sean

Hate to say it, but there really wasn’t enough quality to win the game. Our second XI as a collective is just turgid. That group only seem to cut it if the opposition really suck. Seems clear that if we’re going to rotate then we need to retain some of the first teamers.

Momozemio

did you watch the game? think we played 4 at the back….

Media Hates Arsenal

Wenger , Walcot , Welbeck , Iwobi , Holding , English referees and BT sport Commentators ALL out.

Man Manny

That was…I am truly lost for words.

Bosscielny

Players that need to be upgraded

Mertesacker
Welbeck
Walcott
Iwobi

Our defence is in shambles. Conceding so many goals every game. You can’t expect to outscore the opposition when every time they attack, they look like scoring.

We need a major clear out and that includes the manager.

kas

Iwobi looked good when he first broke into the team. Under Wenger he’ll end up a nowhere man like Theo, Ox etc etc. Poor coaching.

Chuffy

I don’t care if you’re chief executive, owner , director. Tell Wenger that the players that he calls upon for games like this, I’m talking Holding, Iwobi, Walcott, Elneny, Welbeck that they are being sold over Wengers head. They are absolute garbage. A Not good enough to play Premier league if they can’t perform against a 14th place championship twam without a manger. We are a team in massive trouble until this manager and his coaching set up leave. This match was a complete disaster from start to finish all master minded by a so called professor who is a… Read more »

Average Joe

Tossers all around… Bunch of ballet dancers with zero football skills what so ever!! Let the fight for 5th begin, and it’ll be the real struggle, I can tell you that!

Awmyth

By the time Mr Wenger leaves, we will be a mid table team in the Championship.

Like Mr Clough let down Forest, and they haven’t been able to return.

Awmyth

Thumb down as much as you like guys, the writing is on the wall.

I don’t hate Mr Wenger.
I am intensely proud of what he achieved.

I hoped he would not destroy his legacy.

Vedant

I’m just waiting to see how long it takes for him to realize that the team has actually regressed. He probably will never admit it though. Or retire, for that matter.

Awmyth

Mr Wenger has lost his magic touch, he can’t accept it. I also feel, he is too proud/stubborn to accept his magic does not work in today’s football.

Everyone makes mistakes.
Mr Wenger can’t accept his. He keeps making the same mistakes over and over again hoping one day it will work, so he can claim he was right all along.

I understand psychology.
Mr Wenger is trapped by his, and that is so heart wrenching.

Brent

I think I’ve hit my limit on shitty Arsenal performances for the season. I’m going to pass on watching a game until August. I’m so so sorry you have to cover and write about this shit, Blogs. You’re doing good work.

goongot

There are going to be thumbs down for ur comments but i feel u…
I watch through arsenal matches when i have my exams and what not…
I have made sacrfices which i dont think arsenal at current scenario deserves….
I am with you on this one….

Faisal Narrage

Anyone tell me why Willock got subbed but Walcott and Iwobi got to stay?

Gilberto Silva

I want to know what’s happened to Alex Iwobi, seems absolutely clueless on and off the ball, and has the wrong mentality, not just today, but most games I’ve seen him play this season

Vonnie

He’s been dreadful this season, he needs to be taken out of the team and loaned out. I like him but I don’t think he’s ever been as good as the hype suggested, and at the moment he’s just a liability. Unfortunately the manager will probably continue to play him hoping he gets his form back, which could take a long time, or never happen at all.

SB Still

Breaking news: After the shock FA Cup defeat, Arsenal make a BIG enquiry for Jonny Evans. They are expected to busy and make more enquires for players like Mahrez, Lemar. Especially with Liverpool ruling out any january moves, it leaves Arsenal to make more enquires for these players.

Serpent

This game will have all of them champing at the bit to join…

Twatsloch

We need to prepare a replacement so Wenger can collect his gold watch at the end of this season.

Sign Brereton!

Dave

I actually would like us to sign the guy, he was awesome today and to be honest, he can’t be worst than Walcott, Wellbeck, etc

Twatsloch

My thoughts exactly. A year or two on loan, a season or more back in the fold and if he doesn’t work out we sell him on with a profit. Like Chelsea does.

Deano

Did he hit it twice? He most certainly did. What the fuck cabbage savage was on about I have no idea. “I’ve looked at it three times and I can’t tell”. Explains a lot coming from him. The ball loops up in the air for fucks sake. Aside from that bit of calamitous refereeing, and that fat Knacker shouldn’t be allowed anywhere top flight matches. WE WERE WOEFUL, I can’t except lazy players waiting for the ball to come to them rather than going and meeting it. Too many players today were doing just that! I love the big German… Read more »

SB Still

There is too much of loyalty in this club, agree both the key men you named could have gone with their head held high. We extended Carzola’ s contract for another, while I understand that on a human level, I don’t on a footballing level. How we could have done with a genuine replacement for him, particularly this season. Why do we still pay £140k pw to Walcott, I don’t understand. Not only that he is actually stifling Benson’s growth, it’s difficult enough breaking into the senior squad, Nelson, AMN, etc are being asked to perform in unfamiliar positions. Wenger’s… Read more »

Santori

Shockingly poor decision to put out a second string squad after all the predictions by himself of potential banana peel. Rubbish players. We don’t need to upgrade the squad and buy because we can rely on Walcott. Welbeck another one who is decidedly mediocre. Elneny is the sort of purchase we have been making that makes no sense. Debuchy poor. Ghosted by Trarore of all people. Holding poor. Him and Chambers half baked. No nous or invention. No fight either. We don’t need a Van Dyke, we can always get a modern day Squillaci in JOhnny Evans aged 30yrs. We… Read more »

Big Dave

Judging by the team sheet, I think Wenger thought we were playing in the League Cup today. Absolute pony, complete Gash…. Walcott, fuck off back to Southampton.

steve

I’ve never really been one to worry about my internet history but I have to admit I couldn’t delete it quick enough after that stream. If anyone saw I’d been watching a video of one group of men bending over and being savagely fucked up the arse by another group of men I don’t think they’d buy the excuse that it is in fact a sport they play in England.

ItSanogo-al

Jokes! Oh how is missed thee

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