Good things come to those who wait, and that's what Fabio Vieira has had to tell himself throughout a difficult first six months at Arsenal.
Signed from Porto in the summer for a cool £34million, the 22-year-old midfielder was brought in to bolster Mikel Arteta 's creative options and become the latest Portuguese export to take the Premier League by storm. But arguably the best thing he's done since arriving in north London, barring a cracker of a first goal against Brentford, is push teammate Martin Odegaard on to be even better and keep him firmly out of the side.
After starting all six of the Gunners' Europa League group games, injury and his teammates' form has prevented Vieira from making any further inroads into Arteta's XI. Forced to watch the World Cup from home, having not yet been capped by Portugal at senior level, the promising playmaker was given an olive branch by his boss when Arsenal made the trip to Oxford United on Monday.
Before the tie, Arteta lifted the lid on Vieira's predicament and revealed how he'd used the World Cup break for self-improvement. "He is in a much better place," Arteta explained. "I think physically he has reached the level now where he can compete at the standards that we want.
"His understanding of what we want to do is much, much better and now it is my role to give him the right minutes in the right position, in the right environment, to fulfil his potential. But I am really happy with him. We all obviously try to give him all the possibilities that he requires [to settle in a new country].
"Then you have to leave the player as well, to feel and settle where he has his place in the squad. It is very clear, he is very close with a few players. They have been really supportive of him and he looks happy. I think he would like to play more minutes, but in general he looks really happy and he has adapted well to the team."
Also labelled a "huge talent" by the Gunners manager pre-match, all eyes were on Vieira to make an impression at the Kasam Stadium. He didn't take long to be involved, probing the League One opposition's defence with a series of threatening deliveries.
His wand a left foot warmed up with two corners and a dangerous cross, but Arsenal's forward line struggled to deal with Oxford's physicality, as Ciaron Brown headed clear twice. Then came two instances which Arteta would've been delighted to see.
Spotting an opportunity to press in midfield, Vieira nicked in front of his marker and won the ball back for the Gunners to spark an attack. Kieran Tierney's cross was cut out but the Portuguese's confidence was growing in the early stages.
Vieira's desire to demonstrate his improved physical attributes was on show again when he capitalised on an Oxford mistake shortly after, as he sharply switched the play and gave Takehiro Tomiasyu an opportunity to whip in a threatening ball. The Japanese defender was unable to make it count, though, and Vieira's good work went to waste.
Unfortunately for Vieira and his teammates, it went downhill before the break and Arsenal would've been happy to hear the half-time whistle. Oxford began to assert themselves and the Gunners looked vulnerable - especially in midfield.
Vieira's poor touch in the 24th minute allowed the U's to create a chance, but Karl Robinson's men weren't able to fashion a proper opening. Arsenal's No.21 was beaten to a header in his own half, with commentator Lee Dixon admitting that his former team were "rattled."
At half-time, pundit Ian Wright picked out a moment when Vieira summed up a sluggish first-half Gunners performance. With space on the right flank, he opted not to cross towards Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka in the Oxford penalty area, but he instead turned around and gave the ball back to his defence.
"Fo r me the ball has got to go in, a nice easy ball straight into Eddie, straight into Saka," Arsenal legend Wright bemoaned at half-time. "But this (turning back) is what's happening, that's why it's so comfortable for Oxford.
The second half began more brightly for Vieira and he would've been in on goal had Nketiah spotted his smart run in the right-hand channel, a signal that he's understanding the attacking system. Then a combination with Saka led to the Gunners' best chance of the game, with Oxford goalkeeper Edward McGinty pulling off a smart save.
Then came the quality. As substitute Granit Xhaka won a free-kick out wide, Vieira stepped up to produce a "perfect" delivery - according to ex-Gunners right-back Dixon - for Mohamed Elneny to head home and make it 1-0, his third assist for the club.
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It was the moment that Arteta had been waiting for, having decided to take off Albert Sambi Lokonga for his much-needed change in midfield rather than Vieira. Oleksandr Zinchenko noticed the moment, too, going over to congratulate Vieira for his assist and boost his confidence even more.
But what would've given him more of a boost for his second assist of the night, threading through a pass for Nketiah to round McGinty and make it 2-0 just seven minutes later. The ex-Porto star found space between the Oxford midfield and defensive lines, a rare instance on the night, and cooly slotted his teammate in.
The travelling fans made sure to recognise his wonderful work during the celebrations, serenading him with a tune reminiscent of an Arsenal legend. Nketiah then proceeded to make it 3-0 and the goal prompted the end of Vieira's night pulling the strings, as Arteta subbed him off for Brazilian youngster Marquinhos soon after.
A performance that took time but eventually delivered on Arteta's pre-match comments, Vieira will come away from the cup win with a newfound pep in his step. Dislodging Odegaard for good will be a tough ask, particularly due to his role as captain, but the £34m man showed signs that he's on the up and ready to play a role in whatever comes of the Gunners' exciting season.
Just Manchester City in the next round, then.
