Nottingham Forest defender Eric Lichaj has been rewarded for his goal-scoring exploits in the FA Cup win over Arsenal with a pet dog.

The 29-year-old American scored twice as the second-tier Championship side won 4-2 at the City Ground on Sunday to eliminate the holders, and said after the game his wife had promised him a dog if he scored a hat-trick this season. She was then hounded on social media to get the dog despite Lichaj falling one goal short, and has allowed her husband to have a French bulldog.

The animal has, appropriately, been christened ‘Gunner’.


“Wanted to show everyone the newest member of the Lichaj family.... Gunner. Thank you everyone for for pushing @KatPerko in the right direction! #erichasadog,” tweeted Lichaj on Wednesday.

He tweeted on Monday, asking “anyone who is bored” to send “dog pics, memes, gifs” to @KatPerko – his wife’s Twitter handle – and plenty of users joined in using the hashtag #GetEricADog.

Teammates also got involved, with Kieran Dowell, who scored the penalty for Forest’s fourth when Lichaj was keen to take it, posting a GIF of a beagle flying on a magic carpet. Various other teammates waded in, with Ben Brereton, Zach Clough and Matty Cash among those to post dog-related videos on Monday.