Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has described his side’s performance in their shock 4-2 loss to 10-man Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup as not good enough.
Forest inflicted Arsenal’s first defeat in the third round of the FA Cup since 1996. It was also the first time Wenger will lose at this stage of the competition since taking over as Arsenal manager in 1996.
A brace from Eric Lichaj and a goal each from Ben Brereton and Kieran Dowell secured the impressive win for Forest, while Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck were on target for Arsenal.
“We played a very good Forest team who were sharp and focused,” Wenger, who served the first of his three-match touchline ban for misconduct, said in his post-match interview.
“The challenges were decisive. Overall our performance wasn’t good enough.
“We have many players on the edge and we play again on Wednesday. When you don’t win the selection is always questioned. I believe we had an experienced team – eight or nine internationals. It would be easy to think that was the problem.
“When you’re against a team like that they’re very difficult to beat. Defensively you cannot afford the mistakes we made.”
And on Wenger’s view on Forest second penalty, which may have taken a double touch by Dowell, he saod: “I didn’t see it. I’ve said what I have to say [on referees] I don’t need to say any more.”
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