MAGIC OF THE CUP.
It’s been a wonderful weekend of FA Cup upsets. Leeds were knocked out by Newport County, Fleetwood Town got themselves a replay against Leicester, as did Shrewsbury Town against West Ham.
And to top it all off, Arsenal were knocked out in the third round for the first time in 20 years by Nottingham Forest in an enthralling 6 goal thriller.
Forest won the game 4-2 and Arsenal can only blame their own lacklustre performance for the defeat, but fans were left fuming after two dubious refereeing calls from Jon Moss that did not go Arsenal’s way.
Firstly, to give Forest their second penalty of the game, after Mathieu Debuchy’s tackle from behind was deemed to be a foul, despite him appearing to take a slice of the ball.
Debuchy got the ball. That was not a penalty. What is this. #NFFCvAFC
— Nicole Holliday (@NicoleHolliday) January 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/Lishington1/status/950060566655262721
Debuchy actually got the ball … @FA your referees are a joke
— Krish (@Krishan_Shah) January 7, 2018
Just to rub salt in the wounds, Forest got the rub of the green as the referees decided to ignore claims of a double touch from Kieran Dowell as he slipped taking the penalty.
"It has got drama, it has got everything!"
Was it a penalty?
Was it a double touch?All that matters is that Nottingham Forest are leading Arsenal 4-2!
The FA Cup, eh? 😍 pic.twitter.com/738v7YvFlF
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/Evertxn/status/950061286733352960
Has to be a double touch. Look how the ball spins. Impossible for the ref.
— Max Rushden 💛🖤 (@maxrushden) January 7, 2018
They’ve scored a double touch from a penalty. Hilarious refereeing again.
— 1886 (@1886_blog) January 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/MrsChances_/status/950061390936596481
Shocking refereeing, first Debuchy got the ball & it was a double-touch penalty!!! #NFFCvAFC
— Ali (@Ali_Givenchy) January 7, 2018
A goal was given and any chance of Arsenal salvaging a replay disappeared. Forest secured a historic cup win to go through to the fourth round and deservedly so despite a couple of questionable decisions, as some fans (and many neutrals) observed.
Penalty or not. Double touch or not. This is all on Wenger. Not even the FA Cup will save him.
— FK (@fkhanage) January 7, 2018
I think that's a double touch. But if Arsene Wenger dares blame it for the result or performance, he should be laughed out of the room. Disgraceful display.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) January 7, 2018
Arsène Wenger was not able to give the fourth official an earful though, as he was up in the stands serving a touchline ban for… criticising refereeing decision.
