Arsene Wenger hits out at Arsenal players after FA Cup defeat by Nottingham Forest

Despite two contentious penalties, Wenger notably did not blame the refereeing decisions afterwards, but blamed his players instead

Arsene Wenger could only watch from the stands – this was the first game of his touchline ban – as his team was ripped apart by Forest (Getty)

Arsene Wenger was furious with his Arsenal players after their 4-2 FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday evening, saying that they were “not good enough anywhere” on the pitch as they kept making the same mistakes.

Wenger could only watch from the stands – this was the first game of his touchline ban – as his team was ripped apart by Forest. They could have easily conceded far more than four goals. Despite two contentious penalties, Wenger notably did not blame the refereeing decisions afterwards, but blamed his players instead.

“I just think we were not good enough anywhere, not at the front, not in the middle, at the back and we paid for it,” Wenger said afterwards in his press conference. “They looked sharper, they had more chances, that’s all I can say. Nottingham Forest had an outstanding performance today, you couldn’t fault any individual performance from Forest.”

Arsenal could have been 4-0 down at half-time but did not improve after the interval, much to Wenger’s fury. They soon went 3-1 down and could not get back into the game. “You know that when we came back it was important not to make a mistake again,” he said. “And that’s why it’s disappointing. Because during the game we repeated the same mistakes. And that’s where we are guilty today: once, twice, three times. And at that level you cannot afford that.”

Wenger made plenty of changes but said that he had enough players – Per Mertsacker, Mathieu Debuchy, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck all played – for them to get a result. “I can understand the selection will be questioned but as well,” Wenger said. “But it would be a little bit an easy excuse, because we had eight or nine experienced internationals on the pitch. Even with all the respect, we played against a Championship team and that would be the wrong excuse.”