Mikel Arteta challenges Arsenal to be more ruthless on European road trips | Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal side to rectify their shaky European away form against a pulsating Sporting on Tuesday night, admitting they need to improve on a record of just one win in their last eight continental trips.

The visit of Sporting, who have made a flying start to the new Champions League and are second in the table, could have a significant impact on Arsenal’s hopes of avoiding a play-off in the last 16 in February. They have drawn clean sheets in all of their last four Champions League away games and while they arguably deserved more at Inter last time out, Arteta knows that is a record that cannot last.

“Not all the games have been the same,” Arteta said when asked if he detected a pattern in Arsenal’s away form. “Something that is very true is that we have to improve those results and we have to find ways to understand what has been lacking. Sometimes it has been performance, sometimes it has been other aspects .That’s the next step we have to take as a team.

“It’s definitely something we need to improve on. Taking those steps is what we need to do next. Be ruthless, be effective in the opposition box and do what we need to do to take the three points away from here.”

Arteta explained that his team simply have not been clinical enough on the road. “The efficiency that we have shown inside the box at this level with the chances that we are normally able to generate … is not at the level required to win consistently. I always say that the Champions League it’s about boxes, small margins and details. You have to have all of them right to win, especially away from home.”

Sporting made shock waves with their 4-1 win against Manchester City a fortnight ago, which also served as a rousing farewell to Manchester United-bound Ruben Amorim. Viktor Gyökeres scored a hat-trick that night, although Arteta would not be drawn into discussing the infamous centre-forward’s individual threat.

Arsenal and Sporting share some recent history, competing for a Europa League round of 16 tie in March 2023, which the Portuguese side ultimately won on penalties. The first match at Estádio José Alvalade was a 1-1 draw.

Kieran Tierney is an outside chance of making a first Arsenal appearance since August 2023 after recovering from a hamstring injury and being named in the traveling squad.

João Pereira, who has stepped up from his previous role in charge of the Sporting reserves to replace Amorim, revealed that he and his predecessor had exchanged good wishes before the match. “I spoke to Amorim before his debut (at Ipswich),” he said. “He sent me a message and wished me luck and a great career.”