A day after Viktor Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting in July 2025, the Portuguese giants signed Luis Suarez for a reported charge of round £21.8 million from Almeria.
Colombia worldwide Suarez top-scored within the second division for his former membership final season and is the main marksman within the high flight in 2025/26, contributing 24 targets and 5 assists in 25 video games within the division in addition to netting 5 instances and organising two targets in 10 video games within the Champions League.
“We’re so assured that we aren’t afraid of something,” the 28-year-old informed UEFA, through Abola. “We respect all our opponents however we aren’t afraid of any of them.
“I consider that for any participant to come back to Sporting and occupy a spot that was Viktor’s is a superb problem.
“It’s essentially the most thrilling problem of my profession. I’ve confronted it in the easiest way potential with the best ambition and I consider I’m residing as much as it.”
Second-placed Sporting are 5 factors behind Porto within the Primeira Liga with a recreation extra to play, whereas Arsenal are 9 factors above Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League however suffered arguably the worst results of their season on Saturday.
Gyokeres equalised earlier than Southampton scored 5 minutes from time to present the second-tier facet a 2-1 house win over the Gunners within the FA Cup quarter-finals, ending head coach Mikel Arteta’s ambitions of a treble.
“Let’s have a look at ourselves within the mirror, settle for the scenario and go to Portugal with readability and look ahead to it,” mentioned Arteta, telling his gamers to “arise, make your self accountable and ship like we’ve been doing all season”.
“That is the primary second that we’ve [faced] with a sure degree of issue. We are saying issue after we’re going into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.”
The winners of the tie will advance to a two-legged semi-final in opposition to Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, who meet within the first leg of their quarter-final at Camp Nou on Wednesday (20:00 BST).
Sporting v Arsenal workforce information
Full-back Piero Hincapie (hamstring), midfielder Mikel Merino (foot) and ahead Eberechi Eze (calf) are out injured for Arsenal.
Gabriel is a doubt with a potential left-knee damage that pressured the centre-back to get replaced in opposition to Southampton, as is ahead Leandro Trossard with a hip subject.
Midfielders Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi should keep away from bookings to be eligible for the second leg.
Suarez returns from suspension for Sporting however winger Geovany Quenda, who will be a part of Chelsea subsequent season for £40 million, is recovering from a metatarsal damage.
Head coach Rui Borges expects right-back Ivan Fresneda to return from sickness after lacking Friday’s 4-2 house win over Santa Clara.
Wideman Maxi Araujo may be in rivalry to start out, having come on instead in that recreation, as might centre-back Goncalo Inacio, who was given a relaxation as an unused alternative after spending the worldwide break with Portugal.
Winger Pedro Goncalves has been constructing his health and was changed at half-time along with his workforce 3-1 forward in opposition to Santa Clara.
“We had been hoping he’d had some minutes with the nationwide workforce [Portugal] to achieve confidence and enhance his bodily situation, however contemplating every thing that’s anticipated of him this month, we thought it was ultimate that he solely performed 45 minutes,” mentioned Borges.
“He performed a very good 45 minutes. We had the sport considerably underneath management, I felt the workforce was doing properly, and we opted to handle the scenario.”
Midfielder Morten Hjulmand is banned and Suarez will likely be out of the return match if he’s booked.
