I don’t know why I keep doing this to myself. Arsenal find themselves out of the FA Cup coming off a 1-0 defeat to Championship side Forest. Fucking hell. Still can’t believe we lost to Jack Colback in the year 2022. A dreadful performance from every player outside of Leno. A match where we didn’t place one attempt on target and more importantly a match we never deserved to win. Matches like this are why I have never been fully convinced with Arteta as our manager but regardless, still need to pull matches like this out.
The team news was pretty much what I expected with Charlie Patino coming on instead of Xhaka being the only difference.
What a pretty terrible first half. The intensity and atmosphere of this game would never match City from last week but you expect a lot more from the experienced side we put out. The start of the match was very cagey and scrappy with neither team really being able to get a hold of the ball. Aston Villa loanee Keinan Davis was energetic and getting into our defenders. The MOTM for either side was Djed Spence was menacing down the right flank and the most dangerous/decisive player from an attacking perspective for either side. Our midfield presence was close to nonexistent with Charlie Patino looking out of his depth and Sambi Lokanga not able to get his foot on the ball and dictate play (basically exact opposite of what Thomas provided against City). Our front line look disjointed with Forest sitting 5 down at the back. The epitome of our disappointing first half performance was Arteta ruthlessly subbing off a reckless Nuno in the 34th minute. It probably was a message to the rest of the squad to pick it up, lol yikes that definitely didn’t happen.
The second half started with Forest on the front foot led by Spence on the right flank creating dangerous opportunities on his own. Arsenal was poor from the start of the second half. Performances like these have been constant from Arsenal over Arteta’s tenure, teams that are devoid of offensive spark and creativity. The best chances to start the game both came from Forest, from a counter-attack which forced Leno to make a save at his near post as well as a save from a free kick from Man United academy product Garner. And then Arsenal did the thing again where they let the other team score late in the game, the freaking worst. Despite subbing on Lacazette, Forest capitalized on a Sambi mistake and quickly countered with a great cross from Yates finding Grabban running into the box on a well-timed run. And just like in 2018, we find ourselves out in the 3rd round to “Trees” in an all white kit that can’t help think played into our defeat dressing up like Spurs. Like what was even the point of Kolasinac coming on in extra time, so annoying. Also games like this make me wonder why William Saliba has determined not to be good enough to play for us, just another indictment on Arteta and his staff.
Can’t wait to tell us “We weren’t good enough.” We move on to Thursday where we somehow gotta find our way against Liverpool at Anfield. God help us all. :’)