Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal: 4 talking points from FA Cup tie

Arsenal: 4 talking points from Nottingham Forest horror show

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English FA Cup third round football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on January 9, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Arsenal’s English midfielder Charlie Patino gestures wearing a white kit to support the No More Red outreach and anti-knife crime initiative during the English FA Cup third round football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. Arsenal Performance Sees Youngsters Miss Out

There was great excitement and buzz about this match as the number of absences within the squad meant there was going to be a strong academy showing among the travelling party.

Charlie Patino obviously started, while there were also spots on the bench for Omari Hutchinson, Salah Oulad M’Hand and Mika Biereth. Their lack of involvement was an unfortunate byproduct of the shocking level that Arsenal produced.

Facing Championship opposition who hadn’t played since December 30, off the back of the outstanding performance against Man City, was an open invitation for Arsenal to continue their impressive form. It was hoped – and expected, let’s not kid ourselves – that Arteta’s side were going to find themselves in a positive game state with enough comfort that some debuts could be handed out.

Those on the bench would arguably have shown more desire and commitment than those on the pitch, but bringing them on in this game would have been unfair on them. Patino, who looked off the pace, already suffered and his Under-23 teammates didn’t deserve the same.

Worst of all, they won’t get another chance this season with this competition now done and dusted. It’s a good thing they’ve got plenty of their careers left.

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