The Gunners’ only two League Cup triumphs in 1987 and 1993 each featured wins over the Reds and Granit Xhaka’s strike and a Lucas Perez double set the ball rolling for history to perhaps repeat itself.
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Liverpool was an easy 3-0 victor at Derby and Arsenal also dispatched a second-tier opponent, thrashing Nottingham Forest 4-0 with Lucas Perez scoring a double for his first goals for the club since his recent move.
“I liked the second goal for that, I liked as well the goal he made for [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain”.
Arsenal nearly gifted their hosts an early lead when a defensive mistake allowed Ben Osborn to retrieve possession.
Nicklas Bendtner, who joined Forest on a free transfer earlier this month, struggled to establish himself under Wenger in nine years at Arsenal and lined up for Forest against his old club, but it was Arsenal’s new arrivals who shone.
However the mood and applause was almost abruptly halted by Chuba Akpom, who would have given Arsenal the lead had it not been for the fingertips of Vladimir Stojkovic.
The Spanish signing netted his first goals for the club, striking twice in the second half of the 4-0 win on Tuesday.
Chelsea fought back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 and force extra time away to Premier League champions Leicester City, while Bournemouth were also taken to an extra period by Preston North End after a 2-2 stalemate.
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Lucas Perez of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal during the League Cup third round match.
