Fabio Vieira’s chances of replacing struggling Martin Odegaard at Arsenal revealed amid summer transfer links

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Fabio Vieira could be reintegrated into Arsenal’s squad next season, although he’d have to be willing to play a bit part role at the Emirates, Arsenal Insider understands.

Vieira is enjoying a relatively impressive season on loan at Porto in the Primeira Liga, netting five goals and providing four assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.

Thriving largely in a slightly deeper role, this form has sparked calls for the Gunners to recall the Portuguese and use him over or alongside a struggling Martin Odegaard.

Porto’s president, Andre Villas-Boas, suggested that Arsenal could keep Vieira back in March, and this is certainly a plausible outcome for the Gunners.

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Arsenal could keep Fabio Vieira but only if he accepts squad role

After struggling for regular minutes in his first two seasons at Arsenal, Vieira left for Porto on a season-long loan in the summer.

Initially not breaking into the Primeira Liga giants’ team, Vieira has impressed in recent months, slotting into a double pivot in front of the Porto back three and acting as something of a deep-lying playmaker.

Undoubtedly talented, there is a growing feeling around the Emirates that perhaps the club haven’t best maximised the 24-year-old’s attributes.

This has coincided with Arsenal fans growing increasingly frustrated with Odegaard’s performances, inevitably prompting conversations about whether Vieira would be capable of genuinely competing with the Norwegian next season.

TBR Football’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey told Arsenal Insider that while the Porto man could be reintegrated, it’s unlikely because the player is probably not keen on being a sporadically used squad player again.

“It’s not impossible [that Fabio Vieira could be reintegrated], it certainly isn’t,” he said.

“It’s if the player is willing to play a bit part. I think, arguably, there would be room for him but I don’t think the player is going to want to come in and play a handful of games having played so many for Porto.

“I think it’s a stretch to see him back and part of the squad, but it’ll depend on the talks of a loan or permanent deal.”

Should Arsenal keep Fabio Vieira?

Odegaard has really struggled with holding all the creative responsibility in this Arsenal team this season.

Mikel Arteta opted to keep hold of Ethan Nwaneri instead of Vieira in the summer, but it’s clear that the teenager is currently more of a wide option at this point in his career.

That’s left too much onus on Odegaard, although it’s possible that the club captain can rediscover his best form after a much-needed summer rest when he can fully rehabilitate from his injury.

Thus, hedging your bets on the Norway international returning to form and having the safety net of a still slightly unproven but promising Vieira makes some sense.

However, it doesn’t seem likely that Vieira will be willing to accept this role, and Arsenal are therefore better off cashing in on a valuable asset and reinvesting in a younger player who can grow and deputise for Odegaard.