Ruben Amorim appointment at Manchester United has already handed Arsenal huge boost

It’s getting to the stage of the season where Arsenal could use every piece of help they can get. The Gunners are nine points behind Liverpool after just 11 games played - a position from which no one has ever won the Premier League. Mikel Arteta isn’t throwing the towel in just yet though. Instead the Spaniard has challenged his team to come out swinging.

“When it gets nasty, show your teeth and show how much you want it,” he said in his post-match press conference. “When it’s Disneyland, it’s very easy. Everybody’s next to you, telling you how beautiful you are.

“When it gets dark and difficult and everybody’s questioning it, that’s when I want to see people. I’m looking around. Who is going to step in that box? Yes or no?”

READ MORE:Arsenal receive new Kai Havertz disallowed goal verdict vs Chelsea as 'lucky' point made

READ MORE:Mikel Arteta has secret Arsenal weapon in title race that Liverpool will be terrified of

Arteta has at least been handed a boost by the return to fitness of Martin Odegaard. Riccardo Calafiori is not far off, and if Arsenal’s international players can come through the break unscathed, it should be just Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney missing. There could be another positive on the way though for Arteta.

This season’s fixture list has been more hectic than any year before. The increased number of matches provided by the new Champions League format means that Arsenal’s squad is being pushed to the limit.

That could get worse if they are unable to finish inside the top eight. This would leave the Gunners forced to play an extra two matches in a play-off to reach the Champions League last 16 phase.

After defeat at Inter Milan on matchday four, Arsenal are running out of margin for error. They will likely have to get results in at least three of their remaining four league phase matches. Perhaps the toughest one of those will be against Sporting CP.

The Portuguese champions are not to be taken lightly. They have already recorded a shock 4-1 hammering of Manchester City this season. Arsenal themselves will remember just how dangerous they can be after losing against them in the Europa League round of 16 in 2023.

The Gunners task may be slightly easier now though. Sporting have been transformed in recent seasons by their talismanic manager Ruben Amorim. The 38-year-old led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years in 2021 and has since won in the Liga NOS in 2023.

However, on Monday he joined Manchester United as manager. While some Arsenal fans will be sad to see Erik ten Hag go, they will also be a little happy that their match against Sporting isn’t looking quite so daunting. The Gunners would have been favourites anyway, but after a tough start to the season, they’re not in a position to turn their noses up at any good fortune.