Last updated on August 3, 2025
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The Swede had limited time and touches, saw little of the ball, and didn’t register a shot on target.
Image credit: B/R Football
Arsenal’s newest striker, Viktor Gyökeres, was thrust into the spotlight this week for all the wrong reasons.
Making his unofficial debut in a pre-season North London Derby against Tottenham, the €64 million signing from Sporting CP was mocked online after a muted cameo.
But was it really a “nightmare debut”? Or just a case of premature judgment in the age of social media?
Let’s unpack what actually happened, what fans are saying, and why this moment says more about football culture than it does about Gyökeres himself.
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What Really Happened in Hong Kong?
On July 31, 2025, Arsenal and Tottenham faced off in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong Stadium, with over 48,000 fans in attendance — many witnessing their favorite clubs in person for the first time.
It was more spectacle than showdown, but it carried the emotional weight of a derby nonetheless.
- Gyökeres entered the match in the 77th minute, replacing Kai Havertz.
- At the time, Arsenal were trailing 1–0, thanks to Pape Matar Sarr’s long-range rocket.
- The Swede had limited time and touches, saw little of the ball, and didn’t register a shot on target.
By the final whistle, the match ended with that same scoreline — a 1–0 loss for Arsenal.
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Social Media Reaction: From Trolls to Truthers
The full-time whistle hadn’t even blown before social media spun up the hot takes:
“Viktor Gyokeres welcome to the 001 club” – Footy Humour
“Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal debut: 0 Goals/Assists 0 Shots 0 Dribbles 0 Duels Won 2 Touches 100% Has to be Constipated NO ONE CARED WHO HE WAS UNTIL HE PUT ON THE ASS” – Hater Central
“Arsenal go just kpai Viktor gyokeres career 😂😭” – Franklin ICT
I will just leave this here… pic.twitter.com/CAvmkKR3Z6
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) July 31, 2025
Clips of his misplaced touches and lack of involvement were quickly turned into memes and TikToks, with rival fans gleefully feasting on the moment.
Some even joked that Arsenal had signed “another Nicolas Pépé.”
But many Arsenal supporters weren’t buying the narrative.
Why the Harsh Judgment?
1. The Price Tag Pressure
At over £60 million, expectations are naturally high.
Fans (and haters) expected instant magic — which is rarely realistic, especially in a short substitute appearance.
2. The ‘Debut’ Label
Technically, this wasn’t even his official debut. But in the hyper-reactive world of football Twitter, a 13-minute cameo is more than enough to build a verdict.
3. Lack of Context
The reality is Gyökeres had only just joined up with the squad.
He’s learning a new system, new teammates, and dealing with jet lag — yet still got thrown into a high-profile friendly thousands of miles from home.
4. Rival Fan Banter
Any Arsenal signing is instantly a target for rival fans. Add the derby element and the “banter” practically writes itself.
Let’s Talk About the Player Himself
The Swede had limited time and touches, saw little of the ball, and didn’t register a shot on target.
Image credit: B/R Football
Gyökeres isn’t a random gamble — he’s one of Europe’s most lethal strikers over the past two seasons:
- 54 goals and 14 assists in 52 games last season for Sporting CP
- Primeira Liga Player of the Season
- Strong, intelligent, press-resistant forward with a tireless work rate
He’s expected to bring a new dimension to Arsenal’s attack — combining the movement of Martinelli, the strength of Havertz, and the relentlessness of Saka.
The Bigger Picture
Arsenal’s entire pre-season campaign has been about building rhythm, testing systems, and getting minutes into legs — not chasing perfection in friendlies.
Mikel Arteta knows this. The coaching staff knows this. And truthfully, most reasonable fans do too.
The Premier League season is where Gyökeres will be judged.
His true debut — under the Emirates lights, in front of a packed home crowd, against Manchester United — will be the real moment to shine.
