There will be plenty of focus on Viktor Gyokeres when Arsenal take on Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The Gunners will be facing off against the reigning Portuguese champions in the Jose Alvalade Stadium, and whilst his side have already qualified for the next phase of Europe’s elite club competition, Mikel Arteta will still expect a strong showing from his players.
After their poor form prior to the international break, Arsenal need to build on Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League victory against Nottingham Forest and generate some momentum. A win against Sporting CP would provide another crucial confidence boost.
However, the North London club cannot afford to assume that such a positive result will come easily. Not least because they will have the threat posed by Viktor Gyokeres to contend with.
Mikel Arteta sends Arsenal players Sporting CP and Viktor Gyokeres warning
The Swedish striker has been in devastating form so far this season, and has already made an intimidating impression in the Champions League. The 26-year-old bagged a hat-trick against Manchester City last time out in the competition.
Arsenal have held an interest in signing Gyokeres for some time, so Arteta will know all about what he has to offer.
The Gunners’ defence will have been thoroughly briefed on how to cope with Gyokeres, and the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will have to be a their best to counter his physicality, pace, and intelligent movement.
However, Arteta is keen to ensure that his Arsenal side don’t get too hung up on Gyokeres and risk underestimating his teammates.
Quizzed about Gyokeres in his press conference ahead of this match, Arteta said: “I would like to talk about the team. That tells you it’s not only the quality it’s the team energy that they have… I understand the question but they have a lot of different qualities. And in the specific position they have great players.”
What does Arteta really think of Gyokeres?
Whilst Arteta was clearly keen to duck the chance to publicly laud Gyokeres, the truth is that the former Coventry City man is a player that the Spanish coach has a great deal of admiration for.
Arsenal have already approached Gyokeres with a view to securing his services in the upcoming January transfer window. Whilst the Gunners were rebuffed on that occasion, the fact that they made the move demonstrates the esteem in which they hold the forward.
It remains to be seen if the Gunners will try again to coax Gyokeres to the Emirates Stadium this winter. Arsenal have been told to prioritise signing a striker, and there is no doubt that he would represent a hugely exciting addition to Arteta’s squad.
The manager will be hoping that what he is missing out on isn’t made painfully obvious on Tuesday evening, though.
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