Although Arsenal have won three FA Cup titles in four years, Nottingham Forest dwelt the North London club a 4-2 defeat that ensured Arsene Wenger crashed out of the competition in the third round for the first time since becoming manager at the club.
Two goals from Eric Lichaj and a penalty each by Ben Brereton and Kieran Dowell ensured that Forest ran away with the victory with Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck scoring two consolation goals for Arsenal.
Arsenal had made nine changes to the team that drew Chelsea mid last week and were punished by Forest for poor communication between their backline.
As Arsenal were hammered by the rampaging Forest, Wenger could only watch from the director’s box as he began the first of his three-match ban for comments directed at referee Mike Dean last weekend.