Mikel Arteta has called on his Arsenal team to be “ruthless” as they seek to end their away-day blues in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.
The Gunners have failed to win — or even score — in their past four European matches on the road.
Their last away win came against Sevilla in the group stages in October 2023.
A narrow 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan earlier this month has left Arteta’s men 12th in the new-look Champions League table.
The Spaniard believes a victory in the Portuguese capital, against a Sporting side who, when still managed by Ruben Amorim, thumped Manchester City 4-1 earlier this month, will prove they belong in elite company.
“It’s certainly something we have to improve,” Arteta told reporters on Monday.
“I think we have made the right steps and, looking back with the way we played against Inter, which is a team that has been so dominant in their league, reached the final of the Champions League (in 2023), which they should have won, to play and dominate that game.
“But the reality is that you have to make it happen and we didn’t.
“Making those steps is what we have to do next. Be ruthless, be efficient in the opposition box and do what we have to do to take the three points away from here.”
