Kevin Campbell is not convinced that Fabio Vieira should be named in the Arsenal starting XI to face Everton.
Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell believes that Fabio Vieira should start on the bench when the Gunners travel to Goodison Park on Sunday.
Vieira has certainly staked his claim for a place in Mikel Arteta’s starting line up with his recent performances as a substitute. The Portuguese playmaker was introduced from the bench against Fulham and won a penalty for Arsenal and also provided a neat assist for Eddie Nketiah to score.
Against Manchester United last time out, the 23-year-old was again brought on from the bench at the Emirates Stadium, and once again produced an assist. On this occasion, it came when Vieira executed a perfectly weighted through ball for Gabriel Jesus to latch on to.
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Despite these eye-catching cameos, Campbell has called upon Arteta to stick with £65 million summer signing Kai Havertz ahead of Vieira in the starting XI for the Everton game.
Speaking on The Gooner’s Pod, he said, “for me, you don’t change the winning team, you keep it, you keep it going. for me, you don’t change the winning team, you keep it, you keep it going…I think against Everton I think Kai Havertz is going to be needed for his physicality and his size as well. I don’t think Vieira starts but he’s going to get his chance.”
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Whilst Havertz has struggled to shine since his arrival in north London, he does provide a significant physical presence and is excellent at winning his duels high up pitch – an aspect of his game that Arteta values highly.
Vieira is not as imposing, strong, or aerially dominant. What’s more, Havertz’s fragile looking confidence may well be better improved by showing faith in him and keeping him in the team.
Like Vieira, the German may just need to take some time to acclimatise to life at Arsenal. The Gunners paid £34 million to sign the attacking midfielder from Porto last summer, but the Gunners did not see the best of him last season.
Now, though, he looks up to speed and ready to kick on for the club. It is a lesson in patience that the club need to be mindful of in the case of Havertz, too.