Arsene Wenger admits 'outstanding' Nottingham Forest deserved to end Arsenal's FA Cup third round streak

James Benge8 January 2018

Arsene Wenger had no complaints after seeing Arsenal eliminated from the FA Cup for the first time in his 21-year reign, their exit coming in humiliating fashion as they lost 4-2 at Nottingham Forest.

The Championship side tore ribbons through Arsenal at will on their way to a convincing win at the City Ground where they won two penalties, converted by the exceptional Ben Brereton and then Kieron Dowell, after right-back Eric Lichaj had scored a first-half break.

Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck scored for the visitors who although weakened still named seven internationals in a side that never looked like beating Forest.

Wenger said: “I can congratulate Forest for an outstanding performance. They deserved to win, simple as that.”

Though Wenger also conceded Forest had been “more dangerous, incisive and dominant” he also pointed to a fixture list that has seen Arsenal play four times in 11 days as an explanation for their defeat.

“We have many players on the edge. We have to play on Wednesday again [against Chelsea in the EFL Cup],” Wenger told BT Sport. “We have played Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday.

“Many times we got away with it, not today. Is it a selection problem? Maybe. Is it an individual performance problem? Maybe.”

Wenger added in his post-match press conference: “I understand the selection is questioned, but it’s also a bit of an excuse. We had eight or nine internationals on the pitch.”

Forest’s schedule has scarcely been much easier, their last four games have been played over a 13 day period, but they looked far fresher than an Arsenal side in which only two players, Rob Holding and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, had been retained from those who drew with Chelsea on Wednesday.

To compound Wenger’s misery he was forced to watch from the City Ground stands as he served the first of a three game ban for his dressing room outburst at Mike Dean after the 1-1 draw at West Brom on New Year’s Day. He studiously avoided any repeat comments despite two penalties being awarded against his side.

Wenger watches from the City Ground stands 
AFP/Getty Images

“It was very frustrating [watching from on high] and unfortunately it was a case on top of that of seeing the team lose,” he said.

“We played a very good Forest team who were sharp and focused. The challenges were decisive. Overall our performance wasn't good enough.

“When you're against a team like that they're very difficult to beat. Defensively you cannot afford the mistakes we made.”

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