3 Sporting CP players to watch during Arsenal's Champions League clash

The mastermind behind Sporting CP's success this season may no longer be in the home dugout, but the Portuguese champions have not yet been guttered in terms of playing personnel.

Joao Pereira is the man responsible for leading Sporting in a post-Ruben Amorim world, and the early signs suggest the former reserve team coach has no intention of altering the sturdy dynamics implemented by the new Manchester United manager.

A 6-0 win over third-tier opposition in the Taca de Portugal on Friday night means Sporting have won 13 domestic games on the bounce, and they currently sit second in the league phase table having thumped Manchester City 4-1 on Matchday 4.

This is a really good team shaped by Amorim's coaching and inspired by some outstanding individuals.

Here are three Sporting players for Arsenal supporters (and Mikel Arteta) to keep an eye on in Lisbon on Tuesday night.

1. Ousmane Diomande

Diomande caught my eye when these two clubs last faced off in 2023, although it was pretty clear that the young centre-back was an incredibly raw prospect.

However, Diomande has continued to develop and blossom at the heart of Sporting's back three - mastering what some would argue is one of the easier 'positions' in the game. Nevertheless, there are intricacies to his role which render the function more demanding than usual.

Diomande is often tasked with venturing further upfield in the build-up phase - occasionally functioning in the midfield pivot - and is very active when Sporting are aiming to progress upfield, He ranks in the 99th percentile of all centre-backs outside of Europe's top five leagues in terms of pass completion over the past year (93.9%) and 98th percentile for passes completed per 90 minutes (81.51).

His role is fluid and he's proven to be a difficult man to press.

Defensively, Diomande stands out for his physical attributes. He's 6'3 and rapid. Getting past him is no mean feat. He eats up ground at will and can recover in a split second. There are teething technical issues when defending the box and leading the line from the heart of the defence, but the 20-year-old doubtlessly boasts the profile to be special.

2. Geovany Quenda

The 17-year-old sensation is predictably being linked with a move to Man Utd following Amorim's switch, but Sporting are bound to enjoy Quenda for a couple more years yet.

Quenda is one of several talented wing-backs on the Portuguese club's books, with Amorim convering the former Benfica academy starlet into a do-it-all wing-back who's quickly taken to the senior stage. He was excellent during the 4-1 win over Man City and has been a constant in the Sporting team this season.

He's heavily left-footed but plays down the right flank which allows him to wrap passes into Sporting's playmakers between the lines and into the channel for Viktor Gyokeres. Most notably, though, Quenda is remarkably dynamic and and fearless dribbler who'll always aim to take his man on.

Riccardo Calafiori's going to be put to the test on Tuesday, but Arsenal should feel that they can get at the youngster defensively,

3. Viktor Gyokeres

Unless you've embarked on an Aaron Rodgers-inspired retreat for the past 18 months, you've doubtlessly heard of this bloke.

A weekend doesn't go by without Viktor Gyokeres terrorising a poor Primeira Liga defence. The Swedish forward has scored at an unrelenting rate since rocking up in Lisbon, netting 67 times in 69 games for Sporting.

Gyokeres is a bit rough around the edges and I'd probably opt against spending a bucket load on him next summer, but he's an absolute monster in transition and a fearsome operator in the channels. Amorim's principles have manifested his very best, but Arsenal have a supreme defensive operator in William Saliba who's capable of matching the Swede stride for stride.

I think we'll learn a lot about Gyokeres and how good he actually is on Tuesday night. If he dominates Saliba and contributes to a winning effort in Lisbon, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Gunners move for the Swede in 2025.

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