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07th Jan 2018

Arsenal fans left fuming after controversial penalty decisions in FA Cup tie

The Magic of the Cup

Reuben Pinder

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.

https://twitter.com/Lishington1/status/950060566655262721

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.

https://twitter.com/Evertxn/status/950061286733352960

https://twitter.com/MrsChances_/status/950061390936596481

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.

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.