Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reacts after shock FA Cup elimination

Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup after a surprising defeat against Nottingham Forest.

Nottingham Forest defeated Arsenal 1-0 in their FA Cup match on Sunday. An 83rd-minute goal from Lewis Gordon was enough to eliminate the Gunners from the competition.

Mikel Arteta, who returned to Arsenal’s bench after spending a few days in self-isolation, slammed his side’s performance.

Speaking after the game, the Arsenal manager told ITV Sport:

“We weren’t good enough on the day and we are out of the competition. It is really disappointing and we have to apologise for it,

“[We lacked] drive, quality, conviction. [There were] too many errors, too many giveaways in very dangerous areas and that capacity to mentally approach the game or change it and adapt it and find a way to win, which we didn’t.”

Following an uninspiring performance, Arteta substituted Nuno Tavares only 34 minutes into the game. The defender reacted angrily while showing his frustration over the decision.

Asked about the substitution, the Spanish manager responded: “It’s a decision that you have to make in certain moments to try to improve the performance of the team and that’s what I did.”

Arsenal will face Liverpool in a Carabao Cup game on Thursday. The Gunners will then meet Tottenham in the north London derby the next Sunday.