Defending champions Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup by Nottingham Forest on Sunday, losing a dramatic tie 4-2 in the biggest shock of the third round.
Eric Lichaj scored twice for the home team in the first half either side of a Per Mertesacker goal before Ben Brereton converted from the penalty spot to give Forest a 3-1 lead after the break.
Danny Welbeck gave the 13-time winners hope with just over 10 minutes to go but Kieran Dowell netted from the penalty spot again to seal a 4-2 win for the second-tier side over the Premier League visitors.
Naturally, Twitter went into overdrive following Arsenal’s defeat.
FT: Nottingham Forest 4-2 Arsenal
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 7, 2018
A great display from managerless Forest as they provide the shock of the third round!
Every Arsenal fan right now... pic.twitter.com/libhFeWVPi
This is now the second time that Nottingham Forrest have scored 4 goals against Arsenal in the 100 games they have played against each other. pic.twitter.com/FMrRAMMuB9
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 7, 2018
FT #NFFC 🔴 4⃣️-2⃣️ #Arsenal 🔴
— FourFourTwo ⚽️ (@FourFourTwo) January 7, 2018
What. A. Game.
Forest become the first team to beat Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in the #FACup third round!
⚽️ Lichaj 20'
⚽️ Mertesacker 23'
⚽️ Lichaj 44'
⚽️ Brereton 64’
⚽️ Welbeck 79’
⚽️ Dowell 85’
🔴 Worrall 89' pic.twitter.com/D43uP3XnKm
The British press was brutal with its headlines:
Monday's Mirror sport: "Wenger out ... of the FA Cup at least" #tomorrowspapers pic.twitter.com/iJiKFNP8wU
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) January 7, 2018
Monday's Metro sport: "Nott good enough" #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/6JUPi4KXYV
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) January 7, 2018
Monday's Daily Star sport: "Forest thump" #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/wukHxgjMjB
— Helena Lee (@BBCHelenaLee) January 7, 2018
Experts and pundits did not spare Arsenal either.
Not it The Champions League, can’t win The Premier League. I’d have thought Arsene Wenger would have gone strong in the cup competitions especially as The FA Cup has saved him in recent seasons.
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) January 7, 2018
A big blow to Arsenal's season? #MOTD pic.twitter.com/r1z0BW1m60
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 7, 2018
But Arsenal’s fans had the best reactions, as always.
Arsenal fans chanting: "Arsene Wenger - he's won more than you." In other words, we can slag him off, but you can't.
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) January 7, 2018
Arsenal are not playing today. #MondayMotivation
— The Arsenal (@DareToWenger) January 8, 2018
Arsenal Fan TV has peaked tonight. 😂 pic.twitter.com/e9uNMUVucI
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) January 7, 2018
And like clockwork after an Arsenal defeat, the #WengerOut brigade was out in all its glory, including fans of Arsenal and its rivals.
#WengerOUT https://t.co/uIrBDFlM5N
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 7, 2018
No matter who you play, the outcome is always the same.
— Lord Gooner (@lordgooner8) January 7, 2018
So it's not the players,
The referees
The pitch
The fans
The schedule
The media
FFP rules
Transfer windows
Handbreak
Mental strength
Or your coat zipper
It's simply YOU.
Just go.#WengerOut
Dear Arsenal or Arsanal fans,
— Commissioner For Happiness (@RochasSister) January 7, 2018
How do you have 70% of the ball and still concede 4 goals.
Are you scoring yourself ? #WengerOut pic.twitter.com/BGb7XSMkty
Arsenal stayed in the Forest 4-2 long#WengerOut
— Ayomidee (@its_achezy) January 7, 2018
For me Arsene Wenger has been at Arsenal 4-2 long now...#WengerOut #Arsenal #COYG 😂😂😂
— Sky Tshabalala (@SkyTshabalala) January 7, 2018
WINNER: Tweet of the day.#NFFCvAFC #Arsenal #Gunners #FACup #WengerOut #TrapaDrive pic.twitter.com/C6EXk3Wovp
— 🐐🐐 (@TheSporTalk) January 7, 2018
#NFFCvAFC Ozil and Sanchez right now. #Wengerout pic.twitter.com/rMbz92ryjs
— Barry Beck (@TheGreat_Barry) January 7, 2018
Arsene Wenger was brutally trolled for this particular goal that Arsenal conceded:
The Great Arsenal Offside Trap 2018#NFFCvAFC #NFFC #Arsenal #FACup #WengerOut pic.twitter.com/M69s0V0K3J
— Rubbish Football (@Rubbish_Footy) January 7, 2018
This is #Arsenal playing the offside trap against #NFFC, when two of their defenders are standing in a wall a good five yards behind their line.
— Rubbish Football (@Rubbish_Footy) January 7, 2018
The worst piece of defensive set-up I've ever seen. #NFFCvAFC #WengerOut #FACup pic.twitter.com/LBURTH520E
He was even slammed for his team selection:
This is how Liverpool , Man United, Man City and Arsenal lined up for #EmiratesFACup
— Iriba♻️Davi (@Owomunshozi) January 7, 2018
And You Think Wenger is not trash. #WengerOut #NFFCvAFC pic.twitter.com/RCVE2upW7h
Arsenal summed up⚽😂
— ➊AlexCam ⏩ (@1alexcam) January 7, 2018
2016/17: FA Cup winners
2017/18: Knocked out in 3rd round by Nottingham Forestpic.twitter.com/38PdAHtsBs#ArsenalFanTV #wenger #WengerOut #NottForest
With inputs from AFP
