Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal team to fix their patchy European away form against a vibrant Sporting on Tuesday night, admitting they need to improve a record of just one win in their past eight continental trips.
The visit to Sporting, who have made a flying start to the new-look Champions League and sit second in the table, may have a significant bearing on Arsenal’s hopes of avoiding a playoff for the last 16 in February. They have drawn blanks in all of their past four Champions League away games and, even if they arguably deserved more at Inter last time out, Arteta knows it is a record that cannot hold.
“Not all the games have been the same,” Arteta said when asked if he detected a pattern in Arsenal’s away woes. “Something that is very true is that we have to improve those results and we have to find ways to understand what has been missing. Sometimes it’s been performance, sometimes it’s been other aspects. That’s the next step we have to make as a team.
“It’s certainly something we have to improve. Making those steps is what we have to do next. Be ruthless, be efficient in the opposition box and do what we have to do to take the three points away from here.”
Arteta explained his team have simply not been clinical enough on the road. “The efficiency that we have shown inside the box at this level with the chances that we are normally able to generate … is not at the level required to win consistently. I always say the Champions League is about boxes, small margins and details. You have to get all of those right to win, especially away from home.”
Sporting caused shockwaves with their 4-1 win against Manchester City a fortnight ago, which also served as a rousing farewell for the Manchester United-bound Ruben Amorim. Viktor Gyökeres scored a hat-trick that night, although Arteta would not be drawn on discussing the vaunted centre-forward’s individual threat.
Arsenal and Sporting do share some recent history, contesting a Europa League round of 32 tie in March 2023 that the Portuguese side ultimately won on penalties. The first leg at Estádio José Alvalade was a 1-1 draw.
Kieran Tierney has an outside chance of making a first Arsenal appearance since August 2023 after recovering from a hamstring injury and being named in the travelling squad.
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João Pereira, who has stepped up from his previous role in charge of the Sporting reserves to replace Amorim, revealed he and his predecessor had exchanged well wishes before the game. “I spoke to Amorim before his debut [at Ipswich],” he said. “He sent me a message wishing me good luck and a great career.”
