David Raya has told his Arsenal teammates that Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyökeres is on great form and a top player. Mikel Arteta has also urged his strikers to find their killer instinct to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Gyökeres has become one of Europe's most prolific forwards after scoring 24 goals in just 17 games this season. He's attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Sporting host Arsenal at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday and Arsenal goalkeeper Raya said of Gyökeres: "We know his strengths, how he runs a lot in behind and scores a lot in one v. one and he is a top player in form.

"We are going to try and keep him very, very quiet. Don't give him any chances. We have to step up defensively. Hopefully we can do a great job and keep a clean sheet."

Arteta didn't want to get into specifics about Gyökeres, instead focusing on Sporting's overall threat. They beat Manchester City 4-1 in Ruben Amorim's last Champions League match before becoming United boss.

Gyökeres scored a hat trick that night and since joining Sporting from Coventry in 2022, he has scored 69 goals in 67 games across all competitions.

When asked about the Sweden international and how Arsenal can stop him, Arteta chose to focus on Sporting's impressive 19-game unbeaten streak this season, including 17 victories.

"I would like to talk about the team, about the coaches and how phenomenal they have been," said Arteta. "The run they are in is incredible. That tells you that it is not only the quality, the setup, the ambition, it is something about the team energy that they have. That is a great challenge that we have tomorrow, to come here and make a statement and show we are capable against this kind of opponent. Be ourselves and win the game."

Pushed further on Gyökeres, Arteta replied: "I understand the question, but they have a lot of individual qualities. That's why they can win games in various ways. And yes, in the specific position they have great players."

Arsenal have only won one of their last eight away games in Europe and haven't scored in four. This run started last December when they drew 1-1 against PSV Eindhoven. At the time, the Gunners had already secured a spot in the knockout rounds.

"Not all the games have been the same. It's true that within those games there were games that were when we had already qualified," Arteta said. "Something that is very true is that we have to improve those results and we have to find ways to understand what has been missing. Sometimes it's been performance, sometimes it's been other aspects. That's the next step we have to make as a team.

"I wouldn't say that this is the most important thing but the efficiency that we have shown inside the box at this level with the chances that we are normally able to generate in the Champions League level, is not at the level required to win consistently.

"I always say the Champions League is about boxes, small margins and details. You have to get all of those right to win, especially away from home."

Sporting are currently second in the Champions League table, just two points behind leaders Liverpool. Arsenal are in 12th place after four matches, with seven points.