Arsenal fall out of the FA Cup
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal suffered FA Cup humiliation as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in third round.
Having been knocked out by the east midlands side in 2017, the last time that they exited the competition at this stage, a Lewis Grabban goal ten minutes from time was enough to repeat the feat on an evening where Arsenal’s second string XI once again proved how vast the gap between them and the first team remains.
Grabban grabs the opener! ?
Scenes at the City Ground! ?@EmiratesFACup | @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/9MUQF59UPr
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 9, 2022
Woefully short of personnel in midfield, and with Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Cedric Soares all particularly failing to impress, it was a night to forget for the Arsenal faithful.
And, when the dust has settled, it means that for only the second time in 25 years, the Gunners will not be in the fourth round of the competition.
But it also has wider financial implications.
Arsenal set to be short of 4.5 million pounds
Now, as per Simon Collings of the London Evening Standard, the Gunners are set to miss out on 4.5 million pounds in lost season ticket revenue.
This comes as fans will be able to claim a refund against their season tickets, which guarantees the first two home matches of the FA Cup as part of the ticket.
Arsenal, now out, cannot live up to this, and will have to issue a refund.
Arsenal’s defeat to Forest due to cost them around £4.5m in lost season-ticket revenue.
Fans meant to have first two home matches in FA Cup as part of season tickets this year.
Can either claim refund or use as credit against next year’s season ticket.https://t.co/QnB2FDf9Vw
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) January 10, 2022
And, given links to the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Bruno Guimaraes, both big-money additions, this will come as a massive blow.