Pep Guardiola has already warned Mikel Arteta about Sporting CP clash as Arsenal problem lingers

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Arsenal face a significant battle in the Champions League as a trip to Sporting CP awaits the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta will want to see his side turn their form around in Europe as Arsenal lost 1-0 to Inter Milan last time out. 

The result left the Gunners down in 12th place in the Champions League table, which is concerningly 10 places behind Tuesday night’s opponent.

Sporting found joy under Ruben Amorim and are hoping to return to the competition with a bang under Joao Pereira.

• READ MORE: Sporting CP vs Arsenal: How to watch, live stream details, injury news and prediction

Pep Guardiola’s Sporting CP advice for Mikel Arteta

Match day four was a memorable one for Sporting, who gave Amorim a spectacular send-off by recording a 4-1 win over Manchester City.

The result in Lisbon should’ve filled Arteta and those in North London with nerves ahead of the duel on match day five. 

Arteta has some decisions to make in his lineup, which could be influenced by Pep Guardiola’s feedback after facing Sporting. 

Speaking to the media after City’s 4-1 defeat to the Portuguese champions, Guardiola identified where his side started to crumble, which is something Arsenal know all too well.

“We are struggling to score when they create and we concede what the opponents not do much.

“The first-half was really, really good. From my point of view, we scored a goal, and created a lot. But every pass, simple things, we miss sometimes.

“They can run, and they punished us a little bit. It can happen. After the third and the fourth, we have to avoid it.”

Guardiola recognised that his side had the chance to avoid such a heavy defeat in Lisbon, which is something that must alert Arteta considering where Arsenal stand.

Arsenal aren’t scoring enough in the Champions League

Thierry Henry said Arsenal’s issues against Inter were a long time coming following the North Londoners’ 1-0 defeat at the San Siro. 

The club icon was not wrong, as Arsenal matched an unwanted record against Inter, firing 20 shots on goal without scoring – something Guardiola’s side did wrong against Sporting.

City also had 20 shots on goal against the Lions, via Sofascore, emphasising the importance of the Gunners converting chances on Tuesday night. 

Slipping further down the table in Europe is not something Arteta will want to risk, with a lot at stake in the final third, as Guardiola and his squad realised the hard way.