Arsenal player ratings vs Nottingham Forest: Appalling 1-0 defeat

Arsenal fell to a deserved 1-0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest on Sunday evening to eliminate the Gunners in the FA Cup third round for only the second time in a quarter of a century.

Mikel Arteta headed to the City Ground with a depleted squad, having allowed Ainsley Maitland-Niles join Roma on loan until the end of the season and with four players away on AFCON duty.

There were multiple changes from the most recent Premier League outing, with Arteta handing a first start in senior football for exciting midfielder Charlie Patino, who was joined by Albert Sambi Lokonga in the middle of the park.

The squad was full of academy starlets, with Omari Hutchinson, Salah Oulad M’Hand and Mika Biereth among those on the substitute’s bench.

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Arsenal player ratings vs Nottingham Forest as Lewis Grabban scores winner in 1-0 defeat for Arteta’s side in FA Cup third round

All dressed in white, Arsenal didn’t look themselves in more ways than one. A very sluggish performance in the first half produced little of note, with only a few pop shots at goal all Arsenal had to show for it.

The biggest highlight of the entire half was Nuno Tavares being hauled off after 34 minutes and throwing his gloves on the floor in fury.

An appalling spectacle continued after the break with an uncompetitive and sloppy Arsenal barely laying a glove on their opponents, whereas Leno had to use his to make two key saves.

Then the moment everyone knew was coming came, when Forest broke with pace and Lewis Grabban finished inside the box after a fine cross from the right. It was the least an abysmal Arsenal deserved.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Bernd Leno (GK) – 7/10 – The only person probably more bored than the viewers and spectators was Leno, who had an incredibly quiet evening on his return to the team.

Had two key saves to make after the break and did very well on both.

Cedric Soares (RB) – 3/10 – It never stops being terrifying how drastic the drop off in quality is when anyone other than Tomiyasu plays right-back. Cedric’s contributions at either end are no more than bolstering the numbers.

Benjamin White (CB) – 6/10 – Was in possession a lot and had a proper battle on his hands with Keinan Davis, who was a handful all evening. White was one of the Gunners’ better players on the night as he sought to kick matters off.

Rob Holding (CB) – 4/10 – Started off looking assured at the back and while he hit the corner flag with a shot and had a few easy passes astray, off the ball he did alright. However, he progressively worsened as the game wore on.

Nuno Tavares (LB) – 2/10 – Not a happy evening for Nuno. Not at all.

Some rash moments on the ball and questionable decisions without it caused Arteta to act swiftly, hauling him off after 34 minutes. He was having a stinker up until that point and seemed to be playing for himself, not for the team.

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Midfielders

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – 4/10 – Was so isolated in the middle of the park with all the play being funneled down the left hand side. Patino was drifting out to the left half-space and Sambi couldn’t do anything with the rare moments of possession he had.

Unable to get any foothold in the match.

Charlie Patino (CM) – 4/10 – Senior football is a big step up and while Patino struggled to impact the game in the early exchanges, a dreadful performance from Nuno didn’t help their unorganised left side.

Wasn’t in the game at all. A tough full debut for the 18-year-old, who looked lost an unsure of his role.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 5/10 – Kept drifting out to the right to try and spark something in Cedric who didn’t contribute, but it meant his impact was lessened as he was left to try and curl crosses into the box for players who were never going to win headers.

Worked a couple of decent openings after the break as he tried to put his stamp on the match.

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Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – 5/10 – Completely anonymous in the first half as Arsenal forced all their play down the right.

Was involved far more after the break and had the beating of Jack Colback, yet even he was sloppy in possession and made uncharacteristic mistakes.

Eddie Nketiah (ST) – 4/10 – It was helpful that half-time came around as it provided fans with the chance to remember that Nketiah was even playing.

When his chance did come, he used his face to glance a fine scoring opportunity wide.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – 5/10 – Saw more of the ball than any of the other forwards but had a battle on his hands against Djed Spence who showed great pace and physicality in the right-back slot. The Forest defender was excellent.

Martinelli was at least the one trying to create something. Not much came off, mind.

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Substitutes

Kieran Tierney – 5/10 – Did significantly better than Nuno had done, but still didn’t contribute a great deal down the left side.

Alexandre Lacazette – 4/10 – His contribution off the bench was minimal at best. Changed next to nothing.

Sead Kolasinac – N/A – An inspired substitute that changed everything.