Arsenal star Fabio Vieira is spending the season on loan at FC Porto in Portugal, where he is continuing to impress.
The 24-year-old struggled for minutes at the Emirates Stadium, with players currently ahead of him in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order.
The likes of Martin Odegaard and Ethan Nwaneri have been given greater responsibility as the attacking playmakers, while the latter joins Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling as those who can play on the right wing.
Since then, Arsenal have suffered from injury issues and the squad has been stretched, while Vieira continues to impress on loan.
The Portuguese star showed his quality once again for FC Porto in the most recent clash with Sporting CP.
Portuguese media praise Arsenal star Fabio Vieira’s impact at Porto
Vieira was a substitute in Porto’s derby clash with Sporting CP, where an early goal from Ivan Fresneda put the away side into the lead.
The Arsenal loanee made an impact from the bench late on though, as he whipped a delicious delivery into Samu Aghehowa, who teed up Danny Namaso for a stoppage-time equaliser.
It then sparked a brawl as Matheus Reis and Ousmane Diomande both received red cards for Sporting, while Vieira picked up a yellow for his part in complaints to the referee.
There was some praise for the Arsenal man’s part in the game though as A Bola stated: “Dynamic. The determined way he came on suggested that this could be one of his nights.
“He showed greater dynamism and criteria in his passing and driving and proof of this was the way he worked Namaso’s goal, with perfect timing for Samu’s pass.”
The star has shown his quality and will be looking to string together some form for the side while starting in games.
Arsenal could’ve recalled Fabio Vieira in January transfer window
While Vieira was struggling for minutes and an impact at Arsenal going into the season, the January window offered a chance for a recall.
According to The Athletic’s James McNicholas on The Handbrake Off podcast, there was a small window in which the midfielder could’ve returned in January.
Arsenal clearly didn’t make that move, which is strange, given the struggles they have had with injuries in the team.
Vieira could’ve covered the right flank and the attacking midfield positions, which are the areas where some injuries have been impacting the team.
It could signal the end of his time at the club when he returns in the summer, given the focus on signing another forward in the months ahead.
Whether Arsenal could regret that decision before the end of the season though, remains to be seen.
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