Struggles: Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Viktor Gyokeres experienced an emotional return to Sporting on Tuesday night as his former club's fans applauded him, but the Portuguese media were less forgiving.
Gyokeres started for Arsenal upon his return to Lisbon, eight months on from his acrimonious £65million exit to north London.
The Swedish striker scored 97 goals in 102 games in Portugal, but left under a cloud when refusing to report for pre-season training as negotiations between Sporting and Arsenal dragged on.
Gyokeres endured a slow start at Arsenal before improving since the turn of the year, but back at his former stomping ground, he found it tough to assert himself.
"Sporting stifled Gyokeres," reported Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, while fellow publication A Bola went further by reporting that the striker "had a night to forget" in Lisbon.
Gyokeres recorded just 17 touches of the ball and one weak shot on target, which rolled in the grateful arms of goalkeeper Rui Silva late in the game.
The most meaningful impact Gyokeres had was receiving the ball when in an offside position in the build-up to Martin Zubimendi's disallowed opening goal.
A Bola stepped up their criticism of Gyokeres, adding: “The striker celebrates with a mask, [but] seemed masked: he was barely visible.
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"When he did appear, he was offside when he assisted Zubimendi for a goal in the 63rd minute and shot weakly, straight at the goalkeeper."
Publico summed up Gyokeres's performance simply with: "[He] was largely absent from the game."
Gyokeres will be looking to make more of an impact at next week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium.