Revealed: Where Areta plans to use Fabio Vieira at Arsenal
FT Desk
- 12 Aug 2022 18:30 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has thrown some light on what Fabio Vieira's role will be at his new club.
Vieira, 22, arrived at the Emirates Stadium this summer from Porto in a deal worth an initial €35 million plus €5 million in add-ons.
But the Portugal Under-21 international was missing for Arsenal's first game of the Premier League season, an accomplished 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
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A foot injury kept him out of action throughout pre-season and also delayed his introduction to the English top flight, but Vieira was able to begin training with the first-team this past week as he nears recovery.
And when he is cleared to play, Arteta plans to make full use of the youngster's versatility.
“He doesn’t want to be locked in any one position, because he’s so used to it, and that’s a really positive thing for us," the manager told reporters on Friday.
Where can Vieira play?
Vieira played across the midfield for Porto last year, down the middle and on both flanks as well as filling in on occasion in a second striker role.
He contributed six goals and 14 assists to his club's clause in the Primeira Liga as Porto romped to the title ahead of Sporting and Benfica.
Arteta, though, is wary about overusing him just after arriving to a new, more physical league.
“It might take him now time to get there, depending on who he’s playing with and how the game goes - it could take him no time to adapt," he added.
"What I can tell you is that he’s doing everything he can to make that process really short.”
