A frustrated Per Mertesacker confronted Jon Moss at the end of Arsenal’s shock 4-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest after the referee made several controversial decisions in the FA Cup third round clash.
Arsenal were furious to see Moss award a second penalty late in the game when Mathieu Debuchy tackled Armand Traore from behind in the box.
Replays seemed to show Debuchy had won the ball, but Moss pointed to the spot with the game in the balance at 3-2.
Kieran Dowell converted from the spot-kick, but his strike sparked wild protests from the Arsenal players who were convinced the Forest player kicked the ball twice.
The ball ended up in the back of the net, despite the fact Dowell slipped at the final moment.
Moss consulted with his assistant and decided to award the goal, and after Arsenal failed to rescue the game, Mertesacker was quick to remonstrate with Moss.
“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 BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 7, 2018
The Arsenal captain demanded answers from Moss, but the referee could clearly be seen saying he ‘couldn’t see’ whether it was a double touch or not from Dowell and had to award the goal.
The decision from Moss killed Arsenal’s chances of securing a comeback after Danny Welbeck’s goal had given the Gunners hope.
Forest played the closing minutes with ten men, but held out for a famous FA Cup upset win.
It is the first time in Wenger’s reign Arsenal have been beaten in the third round of the FA Cup and the first time since 1908 a lower league team has scored four goals against a top flight side.
Wenger watched from the stands, serving the first game of his three-match ban, and was furious to see more refereeing decisions go against his side after controversial calls against Chelsea and West Brom.
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