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

Mikel Arteta urged his Arsenal team on Tuesday night to improve their patchy European away form against dynamic Sporting, admitting they need to improve their record of just one win in their last eight continental trips.

The visit to Sporting, who have made a blistering start to the new-look Champions League and sit second in the table, could have a significant impact on Arsenal’s hopes of avoiding the last-16 play-offs in February. They have failed to score in all of their last four away games in the Champions League and while they might have deserved more last time out at Inter, Arteta knows it is a record that cannot be maintained.

“Not all games were the same,” Arteta said when asked if he saw a pattern in Arsenal’s away problems. “It is true that we need to improve these results and find ways to understand what is missing. Sometimes it was the performance, sometimes it was other aspects. This is the next step we have to take as a team.

“It’s definitely something we need to improve on. These are the steps we need to take next. Be ruthless, be efficient in the opposition penalty area and do what we have to do to take the three points from here.”

Arteta explained that his team simply weren’t determined enough along the way. “The efficiency we have shown in the penalty area at this level, with the chances we can normally generate… is not at the level required for sustained victory. I always say that the Champions League is about boxes, small margins and details. To win you have to do everything right, especially away from home.”

Sporting caused a stir with their 4-1 win against Manchester City two weeks ago, which was also a rousing farewell for Ruben Amorim, who is moving to Manchester United. Viktor Gyökeres scored a hat-trick on the night, but Arteta did not want to address the vaunted center forward’s individual threat.

Arsenal and Sporting have a recent history in common: in March 2023 they contested a round of 16 of the Europa League, which the Portuguese team ultimately won on penalties. The first leg at the Estádio José Alvalade ended in a 1-1 draw.

Kieran Tierney has little chance of playing for Arsenal for the first time since August 2023 after recovering from a hamstring injury and being named in the traveling squad.

João Pereira, who stepped down from his previous position as head of Sporting’s reserves to replace Amorim, revealed that he and his predecessor had exchanged well wishes before the game. “I spoke to Amorim before his debut (at Ipswich),” he said. “He sent me a message and wished me good luck and a great career.”