Mikel Arteta is a huge admirer of what Arsenal 23-year-old is doing in training

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Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is a huge admirer of Fabio Vieira for what the midfielder shows in training at London Colney, despite rarely trusting him at Emirates Stadium.

The 23-year-old is currently working his way back to full fitness after Vieira sustained a groin injury in November. Arsenal expect to be without the playmaker for their FA Cup third-round tie at home to Liverpool this Sunday. But Vieira could return to action after the winter break.

Arsenal host Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 20 and may also have an FA Cup fourth-round tie the following week. Vieira has already had to sit out nine matches due to the injury. Yet Arteta would have been without the Portuguese for three owing to his suspension.

Mikel Arteta seldom trusts Fabio Vieira to feature at Arsenal

Vieira suffered his groin injury in training at London Colney after serving the first game of his three-match Premier League ban. Referee Michael Olivier sent the midfielder off at home to Burnley just 24 minutes after he joined the game. Vieira replaced Kai Havertz on 59 minutes.

Six of Vieira’s eight Premier League appearances this term have come from Arteta’s bench. He has also only featured as a substitute in the Champions League, with only three of his 13 appearances coming in the starting XI. Vieira has further only played for 417 minutes so far.

Fabio Vieira is ahead of Emile Smith Rowe in the pecking order

Yet CBS Sports now reports that Arteta is a huge admirer of Vieira for what the Arsenal man shows in training. The Spaniard admires what he displays at London Colney, despite it rarely leading to minutes. Arteta also holds Vieira ahead of Emile Smith Rowe in the pecking order.

Smith Rowe has only started in one of his six Premier League appearances so far this season for 116 minutes. He has also missed six fixtures due to a knee injury, compared to the seven that Vieira has so far missed. Smith Rowe further only missed two games that Vieira did not.