For only the second time in the past 26 years, we have failed to make it past the third round of the FA Cup - and once again Nottingham Forest – as they were in 2018 - were our nemeses.
In truth we can have few complaints after a very lacklustre performance at the City Ground.
We were far from our best, didn't create much, and were eventually punished by a late Lewis Grabban goal.
The first half was a particularly drab affair, with neither side managing a shot on target.
Eddie Nketiah and Sambi Lokonga both had shots deflected wide from outside the box, but the usual fluency and speed of movement we had seen in the past few weeks just wasn't there.
In an attempt to change things, Mikel Arteta brought on Kieran Tierney for Nuno Tavares after just half an hour. Tierney was clearly sent on with instructions to get forward, but still our creativity was lacking before the half-time whistle.
The performance needed to improve after the restart, but it was the hosts who had the first chance of the second period - Leno made a fine save from Philip Zinckernagel's shot after Brennan Johnson had raced away on the right flank.
Nketiah headed wide from Bukayo Saka's cross when well placed at the far post, before Leno was called in to action again, stretching to turn away James Garner's free-kick.
Nketiah tried his luck again after wriggling free inside the box, but he fired over from a difficult angle.
It was difficult to see where a breakthrough would come from, but as the game entered the final ten minutes it was the hosts who scored the only goal. Lewis Grabban - who had only been on the pitch for 15 minutes - converted well at the far post from Ryan Yates' cross.
We had just under ten minutes to get the goal that would keep us in the FA Cup.
But it wasn't to be, and we bowed out of the competition without mustering a shot on target.
#arsenal #saka #leno
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Arsenal Football Club were formed in 1886 and amassed 13 League titles, 14 FA Cups. Some of their greatest players include: Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, Ian Wright,
By Arsenal
January 10, 2022