LISBON, Portugal (AFP) — Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is urging his squad to step up their game and seize a crucial win on the road in their upcoming Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. The Gunners have struggled in European away fixtures, failing to score in their last four matches and suffering from a lack of consistency outside London.
Their most recent away defeat came in a tight 1-0 loss to Inter Milan, leaving Arsenal in 12th place in the revamped Champions League standings. Arteta, however, remains optimistic, viewing the match in Lisbon as an opportunity to turn the tide.
“We’ve made progress, but now it’s about taking that next step,” Arteta said in a press conference ahead of the match. “Against Inter, we dominated large parts of the game, and we showed we can compete with top-tier sides. But football is about results, and we need to convert our performances into wins.”
The Spanish coach has emphasized the need for Arsenal to be clinical in front of goal, a quality that has eluded them in recent European encounters. “We need to be ruthless. We’ve had chances in previous games, but we didn’t take them. We must be efficient in the box and make sure we come away with three points.”
Sporting Lisbon, under new manager Joao Pereira, come into the game on an impressive run of form. The team’s confidence is high, especially after a stunning 4-1 victory over Manchester City earlier this month. Despite the managerial change following Ruben Amorim’s move to Manchester United, Sporting have continued to impress with their high energy and tactical discipline.
“They are on an incredible run, and it’s not just their quality, but the spirit of the team,” Arteta remarked. “They’ve got great momentum, and we know they’ll be a tough opponent. But we’re here to make a statement and show that we belong at the top level.”
In a positive sign for Arsenal, defender Kieran Tierney has been included in the squad for the trip to Lisbon. The Scottish full-back has been sidelined since June due to a hamstring injury sustained at Euro 2024. His inclusion offers a boost to Arteta’s defensive options, with Tierney having last featured for Arsenal in the 2023 Community Shield.
“It’s fantastic to have Kieran back after such a long spell out,” Arteta said. “He’s trained well and is ready to contribute. We have a fully fit squad, and that gives us great options moving forward.”
With both teams looking to solidify their positions in the Champions League, the upcoming clash promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Arsenal desperate to end their away-day woes and prove they can mix it with Europe’s elite.
