Arsenal face dangerous Sporting Lisbon test in Champions League, warns Carvalhal
Former Sporting Lisbon manager Carlos Carvalhal has warned Arsenal that they face a formidable test in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final against his old club.
Mikel Arteta’s side head to the Portuguese capital seeking redemption after their quadruple hopes were dashed following successive exits from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.
The north London outfit secured a resounding 5-1 victory during their last visit to the Jose Alvalade Stadium in November 2024, but the upcoming two-legged tie presents a fresh challenge.
A rebuilt Portuguese powerhouse
Since that heavy defeat, current Sporting boss Rui Borges has successfully rebuilt the squad following the high-profile £64m departure of striker Viktor Gyokeres to Tuesday’s opponents.
The Primeira Liga giants possess significant attacking flair, with Carvalhal pinpointing several players who could hurt the Premier League title contenders.
“Sporting are a very dangerous team,” Carvalhal told Portuguese television.
“They will give Arsenal a lot of problems.”
Key tactical battles and missing personnel
The 60-year-old tactician highlighted the dynamic threat posed by wing-backs Geny Catamo and Maxi Araujo, noting their ability to exploit wide areas with aggressive forward runs.
However, the suspension of influential club captain Morten Hjulmand serves as a significant defensive boost for the visiting English side.
Despite acknowledging the immense difficulty of the fixture, the Portuguese pundit believes the Gunners possess the ultimate quality required to lift the prestigious European trophy.
“If you ask me whether Arsenal are favourites to win the Champions League then I think, yes, maybe they can do it,” Carvalhal added.
“But this will be a hard tie for them, it will be difficult to break Sporting even at home.”
