LONDON: FA Cup holders Arsenal were knocked out in the third round for the first time in 21 years under Arsene Wenger, beaten 4-2 at second tier Nottingham Forest.

Goals from Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck were mere consolation as Forest won with two goals from United States defender Eric Lichaj and penalties by Ben Brereton and Kieran Dowell.

Arsenal were furious that Dowell’s penalty was allowed to stand by referee Jon Moss but he waved away the Gunners’ protest.

The incident will step up pressure for English football to rush the introduction of video refereeing – which will make its ‘competitive debut’ only in Monday’s tie between Brighton and Crystal Palace.

Wenger paid the price for resting stars such as Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil amid weekend reports that the German may be the subject of an imminent transfer window bid from Manchester United.

Wenger watched the game from the directors’ box after being banned from the touchline for three games for losing his temper with referees. He will now feel even more justified in his complaints after the penalty incident when Everton loanee Dowell slipped and appeared to play his own penalty ball twice, against the laws of the game.

Forest held on despite finishing with 10 men after a red card for defender Joe Worrall.

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