Mikel Arteta has urged composure from his Arsenal players ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg in Lisbon. The Gunners seek to rebound from a damaging international break, having lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City and then suffered an FA Cup exit at Southampton. Those results contrast sharply with their nine-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.

Arteta emphasized analysis over panic following the defeats. He also confirmed Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard are fit to face Sporting, though Bukayo Saka and Jurriën Timber remain in London. Before flying to Portugal, the team performed an unusual training drill involving players holding a ball between their heads in groups of four, which Arteta linked to reinforcing collective messages.

The tie features a poignant subplot with striker Viktor Gyökeres returning to his former club after a €63 million summer move. Gyökeres scored 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting before his forced transfer. Arteta praised the Swede's gratitude for his time in Lisbon and expressed hope he would show "another very good side" in the high-stakes Champions League meeting.