Arsenal’s hopes of winning a record-extending 15th FA Cup were sunk at the first hurdle as they went down 0-1 at Championship side Nottingham Forest in the third round on Sunday. Substitute Lewis Grabban stretched out his leg to convert Ryan Yates’s cross in the 83rd minute and it was no more than Forest deserved at a vibrant City Ground.
Arsenal were lacklustre and could have few complaints against a well-organised Forest side who earned themselves a Midlands Derby against Leicester City in round four.
Arteta’s side, who face Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final first leg next week, failed to even muster a shot on target as they suffered a repeat of their third-round exit to Forest in 2017-18.
Liverpool came from a goal down to win 4-1 against third-tier Shrewsbury Town, while Tottenham Hotspur beat Morecambe 3-1 after a fighting display in the second half. Liverpool midfielder Fabinho scored twice, including a first-half penalty, while Kaide Gordon and Roberto Firmino also got on the score sheet for the Merseyside club.
Shrewsbury’s Daniel Udoh put the visitors ahead in the 27th minute after he slid in Nathanael Ogbeta’s cross to score from close range, but Liverpool winger Gordon found the equaliser seven minutes later with a calm finish. Brazil international Fabinho scored a penalty before half-time, sending Shrewsbury keeper Marko Marosi the wrong way, before Firmino added the third in the 78th minute with a brilliant back-heel effort from close range.
Fabinho completed his double in the 93rd minute, blasting the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle as Liverpool won with manager Juergen Klopp back on the touchline following his recovery from Covid-19.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Lucas Moura scored late to complete a comeback for Antonio Conte’s team, who were greeted with a huge chorus of boos from fans after a disappointing first-half performance.
Morecambe stunned their Premier League opponents after Anthony O’Connor scored in the 33rd minute. Tottenham paid the price for sloppy defending when O’ Connor side-footed a volley into the net from Morecambe’s first corner of the game.
After a string of chances, Tottenham finally levelled in the 74th minute through Harry Winks when he swung in a direct free-kick from the left touchline. The hosts hit the front nine minutes later when Moura rounded goalkeeper Trevor Carson after striding into the box before Kane wrapped up the win after being smartly picked out by Giovani Lo Celso.
West Ham United defeated fellow Premier League team Leeds United 2-0 thanks to goals from Manuel Lanzini and Jarrod Bowen, while Wolverhampton Wanderers won 3-0 against Sheffield United with two goals from Daniel Podence and another from Nelson Semedo.