Viktor Gyokeres gets lowest Arsenal rating as he's destroyed by Portuguese media

Portuguese media have reacted to Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres' display against Sporting CP in the Champions League

Viktor Gyokeres has been slammed by Portuguese media for his performance against Sporting CP. The Arsenal striker was taken off after 57 minutes against his former side at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are through to the Champions League semi-finals after holding on to their 1-0 lead from the first leg. It was a tense 0-0 clash in the return leg, but Mikel Arteta’s side held their nerve to reach the last four of the competition for the second year in a row.

The tie carried extra meaning for Gyokeres, who joined Arsenal from the Portuguese giants in the summer. However, he was unable to get on the scoresheet during the two games, with Kai Havertz’s goal proving decisive.

The ex-Sporting star enjoyed a prolific spell in Lisbon, scoring 97 goals in 102 games and firing the club to two league titles. However, the former fan favourite did not impress the Portuguese media with his display on Wednesday.

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A Bola published Arsenal player ratings and awarded Gyokeres the joint-lowest score across the team. The Sweden international was given a three out of 10 alongside Gunners defender Cristhian Mosquera.

The Portuguese publication referred to the forward by his middle name Einar as “neither Viktor nor, much less, Gyokeres set foot in the Emirates”. In a damning assessment, the outlet suggested he had helped Sporting’s defence.

Before being substituted for Havertz, A Bola wrote that Gyokeres had “simply acted as a fourth central defender” for Arsenal's opponents. On a tough night for Arteta's team, the striker struggled against Sporting's back three.

The A Bola player ratings piece summarised: “Nobody needed to put him in their pocket; he simply didn't appear.”

Arsenal will play Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals as the club strive to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years. Gyokeres will hope to keep his place in the starting XI for the crucial European games, having scored a brace against Diego Simeone’s side during the group phase.

The 27-year-old has found himself in the spotlight throughout his first season with the Gunners. However, he has scored 18 goals in 46 games across all competitions, including four in 10 Champions League appearances.

Before signing for Arsenal, Gyokeres had established a reputation as one of the leading strikers in European football through his exploits with Sporting. In an interview with football.london, the forward reflected on facing his former teammates during the first leg in Lisbon.

“I haven't been there for a while, and to play against them was, yeah, of course, a little bit strange to come back there and to play on the other side because I haven't really done that before in my career,” Gyokeres explained. “It was a nice feeling and great to be back there, and, of course, to win the game was what we all wanted.”