'Absolute Donkey' – Arsenal Fans Rage at 'Horrendous' Viktor Gyokeres Footage vs Nottingham Forest

Arsenal supporters unleashed fury on social media after witnessing Viktor Gyokeres' dismal performance in the Gunners' Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on January 17, 2026, at the City Ground. The £63.5m summer signing from Sporting CP, who had recently ended a goal drought with a strike and assist in the EFL Cup win over Chelsea, flopped spectacularly in this matchup[1].

The game ended 0-0 at halftime, with Arsenal dominating possession but failing to break down a resilient Forest defense under Sean Dyche. Gyokeres, starting up front alongside Gabriel Martinelli and others in Mikel Arteta's lineup—Raya, Saliba, Magalhães, Zubimendi, Ødegaard, Madueke, and Elliott—squandered a golden opportunity early on. A poor error by Forest's Murillo gifted him a partial breakaway, but the Swedish forward's horrendous finish was saved comfortably, prompting immediate backlash[2].

Fans branded him an "absolute donkey," with one tweeting: "Gyokeres is a complete waste of money—what a donkey finish!" Another raged: "Horrendous from our so-called striker. Arteta needs to bench this clown now." Clips of the miss went viral, amplifying the discontent amid Arsenal's unbeaten run in 10 games prior. Despite Arteta's pre-match praise for Gyokeres' consistency and high standards expected of top No.9s, this display reignited doubts about his adaptation to the Premier League[1].

Forest, battling relegation with 21 points from 21 games (6-3-12), held firm through contributions from Matz Sels, Murillo, Milenkovic, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, and Igor Jesus. Arsenal, second with 49 points (15-4-2), pressed but couldn't capitalize. Injuries sidelined key Forest players like Chris Wood, while Arsenal missed Mosquera, Calafiori, and others, fueling rotation debates—Gabriel Jesus and Havertz waiting in the wings[2][3].

The footage encapsulated Gyokeres' inconsistency: five goals in 19 appearances, but moments like this threaten his starting spot. Fans demand improvement as Arsenal chase the title[1][3].

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