Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has charged his team to be “ruthless” in their bid to end their horrible away form in the UEFA Champions League, even as they travel to face Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.
The North London side have failed to win or score in their last four away European games.
The last away win for the Gunners was against Sevilla in group stages in October 2023.
The 1-0 loss at Inter Milan in early November left Arteta’s side 12th in the new-look Champions League standings.
The Spanish coach is confident a victory in Lisbon — whose last victory in the competition was a 4-1 thumping against Manchester City while they were still managed by new Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim — will be a huge step to them belonging amongst Europe’s elite.
“It’s certainly something we have to improve,” Arteta spoke to reporters ahead of the tie.
“I think we have made the right steps and, looking back with the way we played against Inter, which is a team that has been so dominant in their league, reached the final of the Champions League [in 2023], which they should have won, to play and dominate that game.
“But the reality is that you have to make it happen and we didn’t.
“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.”
Sporting are now managed by Joao Pereira, who has been promoted from the second team after Amorim’s move to Old Trafford.
“The run they are on is incredible,” continued Arteta.
“That tells you that it is not only the quality, the set-up, the ambition, it is something about the team energy that they have.
“That is a great challenge that we have tomorrow, to come here and make a statement and show we are capable against this kind of opponent. Be ourselves and win the game.”
Kieran Tierney was a shock inclusion to the travelling squad.The Scottish full-back has been on the sidelines since June after suffering a hamstring injury at Euro 2024.
If he takes to the pitch, Tierney would make his first Arsenal appearance since the 2023 Community Shield.
“Everybody in the squad is fully fit and available to start the game.
“We have Kieran Tierney after a long injury, it’s great news that he’s back, he’s been training with the team and he’s at the level to participate,” Arteta added.
