David Raya has warned his Arsenal teammates that Sporting CP ahead Viktor Gyökeres is a “high participant in kind” as Mikel Arteta urged his strikers to search out their ruthless streak to maintain their Champions League hopes on monitor.
Gyökeres has turn into certainly one of Europe’s most prolific forwards after netting 24 objectives in 17 video games this season, attracting curiosity from a number of Premier League golf equipment together with Manchester United, Manchester Metropolis, Chelsea and the Gunners.
Sporting host Arsenal at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday and Arsenal goalkeeper Raya mentioned of Gyökeres: “We all know his strengths, how he runs rather a lot in behind and scores rather a lot in a single v. one and he’s a high participant in kind.
“We’re going to try to maintain him very, very quiet. Do not give him any possibilities. We have now to step up defensively. Hopefully we are able to do an ideal job and maintain a clear sheet.”
Arteta refused to be drawn on Gyökeres particularly, selecting as an alternative to deal with Sporting’s collective risk, having crushed Manchester Metropolis 4-1 in Ruben Amorim’s ultimate Champions League match earlier than changing into United boss.
Gyökeres scored a hat trick that evening and since becoming a member of Sporting from Coventry in 2022, he has scored 69 objectives in 67 video games throughout all competitions.
Requested how good the Sweden worldwide is and the way Arsenal can cease him, Arteta selected to deal with Sporting’s exceptional unbeaten 19-game run this season, together with 17 victories.
“I wish to discuss in regards to the workforce, in regards to the coaches and the way phenomenal they’ve been,” mentioned Arteta. “The run they’re in is unimaginable. That tells you that it isn’t solely the standard, the setup, the ambition, it’s one thing in regards to the workforce vitality that they’ve. That could be a nice problem that we’ve got tomorrow, to return right here and make an announcement and present we’re succesful towards this type of opponent. Be ourselves and win the sport.”
Pushed additional on Gyökeres, Arteta replied: “I perceive the query, however they’ve loads of particular person qualities. That is why they’ll win video games in numerous methods. And sure, within the particular place they’ve nice gamers.”
Arsenal have gained simply certainly one of their final eight away video games in Europe and haven’t scored of their final 4, a run courting again to final December’s 1-1 draw towards PSV Eindhoven when the Gunners had already booked their spot within the knockout rounds.
“Not all of the video games have been the identical. It is true that inside these video games there have been video games that have been once we had already certified,” Arteta mentioned. “One thing that could be very true is that we’ve got to enhance these outcomes and we’ve got to search out methods to grasp what has been lacking. Typically it has been efficiency, generally it has been different elements. That is the following step we’ve got to make as a workforce.
“I would not say that that is an important factor however the effectivity that we’ve got proven contained in the field at this degree with the possibilities that we’re usually capable of generate within the Champions League degree, just isn’t on the degree required to win persistently.
“I all the time say the Champions League is about packing containers, small margins and particulars. You must get all of these proper to win, particularly away from dwelling.”
Sporting are second within the Champions League desk, two factors behind first-place Liverpool, whereas Arsenal sit in twelfth on seven factors after 4 matches.