Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres returned to Lisbon on Tuesday night to face former club Sporting, but had an evening to forget
Viktor Gyokeres had 90 minutes to forget against Sporting(Image: AP)
Arsenal might have won their Champions League match in Lisbon on Tuesday night, but it was a frustrating evening for Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish striker failed to find the net against former club Sporting CP and was savaged by the Portuguese press after the game.
Gyokeres scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting before joining Arsenal over the summer in a deal worth up to £63.7m. He has scored 17 times for his new club, but the Gunners needed a late strike from substitute Kai Havertz to win at Estadio Jose Alvalade and gain a narrow lead heading into the second leg of their quarter-final.
The 27-year-old was in fine form in the international break, bagging four goals in two games as Sweden booked their place at the World Cup. However, this was a third straight Champions League game in which he has drawn a blank.
Portuguese media pulled no punches when they ran the rule over Gyokeres’ performance on his return to Lisbon. Here’s what they said.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Record
Even before the game, Record were prepared to go big on their coverage of Gyokeres. They ran a live blog on the player’s return, even reporting that the player’s family watched the game with Sporting fans back in Stockholm.
“After 45 minutes, Gyokeres has been somewhat subdued,” their half-time update read. “The Swede hasn’t had a shot yet and has been heavily marked. He’s only touched the ball 9 times and lost both duels he’s been involved in.”
Not much had changed by full-time. This gave Record little to report back on when it came to his on-field antics, reiterating how quiet an evening it was for a man used to finding the net in the Portuguese capital.
“Viktor Gyokeres returned to Alvalade, now as an opponent of Sporting, and left smiling with Arsenal’s victory in stoppage time,” they added. “The striker put in a discreet performance in the reunion, being applauded at the end by the Sporting fans, at a time when the green and white team also said goodbye with applause from the stands.”
To Ball
To Ball pointed to two moments from Gyokeres, itself a recognition that the 90 he played were far quieter than he might have hoped. One of those counted for naught, with the Swede straying offside in the build-up as Martin Zubimendi thought he had given Arsenal the lead.
“Gyokeres returned to Alvalade — one of eight changes to the Gunners ‘ starting eleven — but had a night to forget,” they wrote. “The striker, who celebrates with a mask, seemed masked: he was barely visible, and when he did appear, he was offside when he assisted Zubimendi for a goal in the 63rd minute (disallowed due to the Swede’s position) and shot weakly, straight at the goalkeeper (66’).”
There was far more praise for substitute Gabriel Martinelli, who made a decisive impact as he set up Havertz’s winner. “He came off the bench and was decisive, with a brilliant play that allowed Arsenal to be happy at Alvalade,” the report read.
More Football
Another outlet, More Footballsimilarly had little to report back on as far as Gyokeres’ on-field activities were concerned. However, they noted there was also an emotional reunion for the Swede as he met back up with his former team-mates, even heading into their dressing room after Arsenal’s win.
“The game didn’t go his way, it’s true, he was far from the Arsenal level and only managed one shot, without any danger,” they wrote. “But after the final whistle, which sealed the victory for the London team, the Swede made a point of greeting all the Sporting players , giving (manager) Rui Borges a big hug and walking around the pitch thanking the applause.
“The night, however, was not yet over. Even after all this, Gyokeres went back to the Sporting dressing room to socialise with the players. He left the dressing room he knows so well with two green and white jerseys, given to him by former teammates. It was with them under his arm that he headed towards the Arsenal team bus.
“As he passed through the mixed zone, with a broad smile on his face, Gyokeres was not authorised by Arsenal to speak to journalists, but he made a point of greeting them and expressing his happiness at returning to Alvalade. “Yes, very happy,” he said quickly.”
