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A day after Viktor Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting in July 2025, the Portuguese giants have signed Luis Suarez for a reported £21.8 million from Almeria.
Colombian Suarez scored in the second division for his former club last season and is the best player in the top division in 2025/26, scoring 24 goals and providing five assists in 25 games this term as well as keeping five goals and setting up two goals in 10 Champions League games.
“We are confident that we are not afraid of anything,” the 28-year-old told UEFA, about Abola. “We respect all our opponents but no one is afraid.
“I believe that for any player to come to Sporting and take the place that belonged to Viktor is a big challenge.
“It’s the most exciting challenge in my career. I faced it in the best way possible with a lot of ambition and I believe I live by it.”
Second-placed Sporting are five points adrift of Porto in the Primeira Liga with a game in hand, while Arsenal are nine points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League but suffered arguably their worst result of the season on Saturday.
Gyokeres equalized before Southampton struck five minutes from time to give the second-tier side a 2-1 win at home to the Gunners in the FA Cup quarter-finals, ending head coach Mikel Arteta’s treble ambitions.
“Let’s look at ourselves in the mirror, accept the situation and go to Portugal clearly and look forward,” said Arteta, telling his players to “stand up, respond and do as we have been doing all season”.
“This is the first moment we have [faced] with a certain degree of difficulty. We say it is difficult when we are about to enter the quarter-finals of the Champions League.”
The winners of this match will advance to a two-legged semi-final against either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, who will meet in the first leg of the quarter-finals at the Camp Nou on Wednesday (20:00 BST).
Sporting v Arsenal team news
Defender Piero Hincapie (hamstring), midfielder Mikel Merino (foot) and striker Eberechi Eze (calf) are injured for Arsenal.
Gabriel is a doubt due to a possible left knee injury that forced the midfielder to be substituted against Southampton, as was Leandro Trossard earlier with a groin problem.
Midfielders Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi must avoid bookings to qualify for the second leg.
Suarez returns from suspension at Sporting but Geovany Quenda, who will join Chelsea next season for £40 million, is recovering from a metatarsal injury.
Head coach Rui Borges expects right back Ivan Fresneda to return from illness after missing Friday’s 4-2 home win over Santa Clara.
Wideman Maxi Araujo could also be in contention for the start, having replaced him in that game, as could defender Goncalo Inacio, who has been rested as an unused substitute after spending the break with Portugal.
Winger Pedro Goncalves has been building up his fitness and was taken off at half-time with his side leading 3-1 to Santa Clara.
“We were hoping that he would have some minutes in the national team [Portugal] to gain confidence and improve his physical condition, but if we look at everything that is expected of him this month, we think it is good that he plays only 45 minutes,” said Borges.
“He played well for 45 minutes. We managed the game well, I felt that the team did well, we chose to control the situation.”
Midfielder Morten Hjulmand is suspended and Suarez will miss the second leg if he is booked.
