Arsenal Gets Knocked Out of FA Cup Losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest

Third-round exits in the FA Cup don’t come along very often for Arsenal.

Unless, that is, Nottingham Forest is the opponent.

Failing to transfer its improved Premier League form to the world’s oldest knockout competition, Arsenal was beaten 1-0 by second-tier Forest on Sunday in the second big shock of the third round — the stage where top-flight clubs enter the draw.

It’s only the second time in 26 seasons that Arsenal has fallen at the first hurdle. Forest was responsible for the other occasion, too, in 2018.

“We were not good enough,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said, “and we have to apologize for it.”

Tottenham and Liverpool avoided the same fate as Arsenal, launching comebacks after falling behind at home to third-tier opponents. Tottenham beat Morecambe 3-1 and Liverpool won 4-1 against Shrewsbury.