Arsenal Forward Gyokeres Faces Harsh Portuguese Media Verdict After Lisbon Return
Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 victory away to Sporting CP in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday evening, but the match proved a difficult personal outing for Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres. The 27-year-old forward, who left Sporting for Arsenal last summer in a deal worth up to £63.7 million, was unable to score against his former employers and faced severe criticism from the Portuguese press during and after the contest.
Gyokeres' Muted Display in Emotional Lisbon Homecoming
Gyokeres, who averaged nearly a goal per game during his prolific spell with Sporting, has netted 17 times for Arsenal this season. However, he drew a blank at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, where the Gunners required a late strike from substitute Kai Havertz to secure a slender advantage ahead of next week's second leg. The Swedish international, in excellent form after scoring four goals for Sweden during the recent international break, has still yet to register a goal in a Champions League knockout tie, having now played four such matches across his spells with both clubs.
The Portuguese media did not hold back in their assessment of Gyokeres' performance on his emotional return to Lisbon. Here is a detailed breakdown of their critical verdicts.
Record: "Subdued" and "Heavily Marked" Throughout
Portuguese newspaper Record provided extensive coverage of Gyokeres' return, even noting that the player's relatives watched the match alongside Sporting supporters in Stockholm. Their half-time update stated, "After 45 minutes, Gyokeres has been somewhat subdued. 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."
Little changed by the final whistle, leaving Record with scant positive material regarding his on-pitch contributions. They highlighted the stark contrast with his famous European hat-trick for Sporting against Manchester City last season, noting, "Viktor Gyokeres returned to Alvalade, now as an opponent of Sporting, and left smiling with Arsenal's victory in stoppage time. The striker put in a discreet performance in the reunion, being applauded at the end by the Sporting fans."
A Bola: A "Night to Forget" for the Masked Striker
A Bola highlighted just two significant moments involving Gyokeres during the entire ninety minutes, a telling indication of his muted influence. One involved an offside call that nullified a potential assist for Martin Zubimendi, while the other was a weak shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Their report read, "Gyokeres returned to Alvalade – one of eight changes to the Gunners' starting eleven – but had a night to forget. 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 and shot weakly, straight at the goalkeeper." The publication contrasted his performance with that of substitute Gabriel Martinelli, who provided the assist for Havertz's decisive goal.
Mais Futebol: Warm Off-Pitch Reunion Amid On-Field Struggles
Similarly, Mais Futebol had little positive to say about Gyokeres' contributions during the match itself, stating, "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." However, they provided a poignant account of his warm off-pitch reunion with former teammates and staff.
The report detailed a touching post-match scene: Gyokeres greeted all the Sporting players, embraced manager Rui Borges, thanked the applauding fans, and even visited the Sporting dressing room to socialise. He left with two green-and-white jerseys gifted by former colleagues, carrying them under his arm as he boarded the Arsenal team bus. Although not authorised by Arsenal to speak to journalists in the mixed zone, he briefly expressed his happiness at returning to Alvalade.
Despite the harsh media critique and a quiet personal performance, Gyokeres and Arsenal will be satisfied with the crucial away victory, which sets up a finely poised second leg at the Emirates Stadium next week.
