Nottingham Forest knocked out the FA Cup holders Arsenal with a stunning victory at the City Ground which included an unlikely brace from Eric Lichaj and two penalties.
Lichaj originally gave Forest the lead with a close-range header before Per Mertesacker brought Arsenal back on level terms. The defender’s sumptuous volley just before half-time then put them back into the lead.
Ben Brereton and Kieran Dowell then both scored from the penalty spot either side of a Danny Welbeck strike to inflict a humbling defeat on the Premier League side.
Nottingham Forest celebrate with Eric Lichaj after he gave them a surprise lead over the FA Cup holders after 20 minutes
Lichaj needed to only connect with Kieran Dowell’s free-kick to guide the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina
Ben Brereton of Nottingham Forest puts his side two goals ahead from the penalty spot and send the City Ground into rapture
Brereton celebrates scoring Nottingham Forest’s third goal with an affectionate Joe Worrall rewarding him with a kiss
Arsenal players return to their starting positions after conceding a third goal against the Championship side on Sunday
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE
Nottingham Forest: Smith, Lichaj, Worrall, Mancienne, Traore, Osborn, Vaughan, Cash (McKay 87), Dowell (Mills 90), Clough (Walker 56), Brereton.
Subs not used: Henderson, Bouchalakis, Cummings, Vellios.
Goals: Lichaj 20, 44; Brereton 64 pen, Dowell 87 pen
Bookings: None
Sent off: Worrall
Arsenal: Ospina, Debuchy (Akpom 87), Mertesacker, Holding, Nelson, Willock (Nketiah 65), Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Walcott, Iwobi, Welbeck.
Subs not used: Macey, Chambers, Osei-Tutu, Dasilva, Reine-Adelaide.
Goals: Mertesacker 23, Welbeck 79
Bookings: Debuchy, Ospina, Mertesacker
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Eric Lihaj scores his second goal of the game with a sumptuous volley from 20 yards. For more from Match Zone,
Nottingham Forest players have one final team talk in the centre of the pitch prior to kick off at the City Ground on Sunday
Arsene Wenger takes his place in the stands as part of a three-game touchline ban with former assistant Pat Rice behind him
Nottingham Forest star Lichaj is left completely unmarked and nudges home a free-kick to give his side the lead
Mertesacker (left) brings Arsenal back on level terms with a well-taken strike within three minutes of the opening goal
Arsenal goalkeeper Ospina is attended to by defender Mathieu Debuchy after he appears to dislocate his finger
Lichaj watches as his volley heads towards the Arsenal goal to give Nottingham Forest a 2-1 lead over the FA Cup holders
Alex Iwobi and Mertesacker react with disbelief as referee Jon Moss awards Nottingham Forest a penalty in the second half
Nottingham Forest’s Ben Brereton scores their third goal from the penalty spot with a well-placed effort into the right corner
Kieran Dowell appeared to kick the ball twice as he converted Nottingham Forest’s second penalty and sealed the game
Referee Jonathan Moss waves away protests from Rob Holding and Welbeck following the penalty that put Forest 4-2 ahead
Wenger looks dejected as he sits next to Jens Lehamann in the stands and watches Arsenal fall even further behind in the tie.
