Arsenal’s Champions League campaign resumes on Tuesday night as Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Portugal to take on Sporting CP in the first leg of a quarter-final tie.
The Gunners were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton in their last outing, with goals from Ross Stewart and Shea Charles ending their hopes of winning a treble. While the North Londoners remain nine points clear at the top of the Premier League table, the mood around N5 has certainly gone sombre after this harrowing defeat on the south coast.
It doesn’t get any easier for Arteta’s men, as they now have to overcome a Sporting side in excellent form and gunning for the Portuguese title. Rui Borges’ outfit haven’t lost a league game since August, while they’ll be buoyed by their emphatic 5-0 victory over Bodo/Glimt in the last round.
Here are the key battles that we believe could be pivotal in dictating the outcome of the game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
William Saliba vs Luis Suarez
Understandably, Sporting weren’t eager to sanction Viktor Gyokeres’ departure last summer, after the Swede had found the back of the net 54 times for the Portuguese giants last term. However, it seems as though they’ve managed to source a more than adequate replacement in Luis Suarez.
The Colombian arrived from Spanish second division side Almeria for £22 million, and he’s thus far netted 33 goals this campaign. Boasting exceptional movement and outstanding finishing ability, Suarez has the capacity to hurt any team in Europe, having already scored five Champions League goals for Sporting.
How William Saliba deals with Suarez could have a significant impact on how the game in Lisbon unfolds. If the Frenchman is able to keep the 28-year-old quiet using his imperious physicality and intelligence, then the Gunners should have no issues on the night.
Viktor Gyokeres vs Goncalo Inacio
Gyokeres may receive a hostile reception from the fans who once worshipped him. The 27-year-old forced his way out of the Lisbon club to secure a move to Arsenal, and it’s therefore not a major surprise that there is animosity towards him from some quarters at the Jose Alvalade stadium.
Dealing with this hostility will be a huge psychological battle for the striker, although facing up against former teammate Goncalo Inacio is arguably the bigger battle for him.
Inacio is the leader of Sporting’s back four, with his physicality and ability to read the game unmatched by many defenders in the Primeira Liga. His immense pedigree is reflected by him already having 20 caps for Portugal and by the constant speculation linking him with top clubs across Europe.
Bukayo Saka vs Maxi Araujo
Arsenal-linked Ivan Fresneda may be used at left-back by Borges to deal with Bukayo Saka, although it’s more likely that 26-year-old Uruguayan defender Maxi Araujo is deployed in this role.
Assuming Saka is fit, he has a serious individual fight on his hands down Arsenal’s right flank. Araujo is an athletic full-back who generally favours marauding up the left side rather than remaining positionally disciplined.
| Bukayo Saka’s statistics this season (all competitions) | |
| Appearances | 41 |
| Goals | 9 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Shots per 90 | 2.78 |
| Expected Goals per 90 (non-penalty) | 0.29 |
| Expected Assists per 90 | 0.27 |
However, Borges may instruct Araujo to play a more conservative game, so that Sporting can negate Saka, and the Uruguay international certainly has this style of play in his locker.
