Luis Suarez, the Colombian striker who arrived at Sporting CP to fill the void left by Viktor Gyokeres, has made it clear that his side will not be walking into tonight’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with any sense of inferiority.
Arsenal enter the game at Estádio José Alvalade as favourites on paper, but they carry visible scars from a brutal fortnight in domestic competition. Back-to-back cup exits, first to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and then to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final, have left questions hanging over this Arsenal squad at the worst possible moment.
Sporting, meanwhile, are brimming with confidence after completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent Champions League history. Written off after a 3-0 defeat away to Bodø/Glimt in the round of 16 first leg, Rui Borges’ side produced an extraordinary 5-0 win at home to overturn the deficit and set up this meeting with Arsenal. That kind of result does not just earn you points, it reshapes how a squad sees itself.
What Luis Suarez said about Arsenal
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Suarez was asked about the challenge of facing one of the Premier League’s best sides tonight, and his response was direct.
“We’re not afraid of anyone. We respect all our opponents, but we don’t fear any of them.”
Those are the words of a player and a squad who believe they can produce something special again. Suarez himself has added a strong goal threat to Sporting’s attack since arriving in Lisbon, and with Gyokeres now lining up on the opposite side, the Gyokeres subplot makes this tie compelling on multiple levels.
Can Sporting pull off another upset?
Arsenal are the stronger side on aggregate talent, but form and momentum can shift a tie in unexpected directions. Sporting are unbeaten at home since last August, their crowd will be rocking, and they have already shown this season that they are capable of the extraordinary. Arsenal have been warned.
Related Items:Latest Mikel Arteta News | Transfer News | Injury News and Update, Luis Suarez, Sporting Lisbon
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