Mikel Arteta said Arsenal needed to apologise after a below-par performance led to a third-round FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Lewis Grabban’s late strike proved the difference at the City Ground as Forest shocked the Gunners again, having beaten them 4-2 at the same stage in 2018.
Arteta made several changes to his team but still included Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Bernd Leno in the starting XI.
“We were not good enough and we have to apologise for it,” Arsenal manager Arteta told ITV.
“I don’t want to use excuses, I expect the team I put out to do better and when you don’t in the cup you are out.
“Today showed we were not capable of winning against Forest away from home and didn’t put in the level to win the game. It’s a collective issue and today we have not done it. What we have done today is nowhere near the level and standards that are required.”
Even though Arsenal had much more of the possession they failed to have a single shot on target.
Lewis Grabban celebrates his winner against Arsenal in the FA Cup
Nuno Tavares was hooked after just 34 minutes of the match and showed his frustration as he threw his gloves to the ground.
Asked about the decision to replace Tavares, Arteta said: “I just did it to try to improve the performance of the team.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 07: during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on November 7, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Nuno Tavares was taken off after 34 minutes
“I have to make the decision to try to improve the performance of the team when it’s not going in any other direction.”
Arsenal will hope for improvement in their next three fixtures.
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/JRNQLZMy
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/dl70oXG6
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/dlvvkrBl
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/Gl5GoXEy
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/7lxxv5ml
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/XRz4xzz6
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/zy47oXj6
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/PlqV9j86
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/QlLg42ZR
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/9RV1DaJy
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/glbvGJKl
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/7R0WoXny
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/PyJLxkel
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/NyE5BK4y
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/dlvvkrGl
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/Gl5GoXJy
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/7lxxv5kl
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/XRz4xza6
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/zy47ojd6
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/PlqV9d26
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/QlLg4k7R
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/9RV1DA4y
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/glbvGVjl
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/7R0WoZWy
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/PyJLx3Wl
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/NyE5BJgy
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/D6K3z8A6
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/r6B1JVNl
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/qlDvK0dy
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/2l3KomZl
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/gy8Kvab6
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/AykDj8qR
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/16YOGr4R
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/KR2ngo1R
https://www.guilded.gg/marvels-Mob/overview/news/xypa2Z2R
They face Liverpool in their two-legged Carabao Cup semi-final on January 13 and 20, either side of a trip to north London rivals Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday January 16.
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper declared himself “really proud” of his players.
He said: “We came up against a really good team and we had a clear game plan. We wanted to be brave with our pressing and get at them on the counter and that’s how we scored.
“I’m really proud of the boys, pleased with the performance. It’s brilliant to get through and I hope the players now really believe in what we’re doing.
“[Grabban] is the club captain. He’s experienced and we work together in terms of how we use him. Then we brought him on and he scored.”
