Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that “tremendous” Fabio Vieira is starting to cause him “ headaches ” as he attempts to give him more game time in north London.
The Portuguese playmaker signed for the Gunners last summer in a £34m move from Porto as Arteta attempted to bolster his midfield options. The 22-year-old has seen his game time limited since then though.
Of the 23 appearances he has made for the current Premier League leaders, just 10 have been starts, whilst Vieira was last named in the starting XI for a league match back in November in a 2-0 victory over Wolves.
Amid somewhat of an injury crisis this season - Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny both being struck down with problems - Vieira was anticipated to receive more game time. That has not quite materialised with Arsenal instead electing to sign Jorginho from Chelsea.
Arteta remains convinced by Vieira though and has admitted that attempting to find him more game time has been a tricky problem to solve. Asked how close he was to starting ahead of Saturday’s clash with Leicester, the Spaniard replied: “Very close. He is starting to give me big headaches because I see every single day what he is capable of doing. A tremendous player.
“He now understands exactly what we want and physically he is a condition to compete at the right level in this league. He brings qualities that we don’t have in the squad. Very eager to give him more [game time].”
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Whilst Vieira has yet to show Gunners supporters exactly what he can offer, Arteta is under no illusions that the 22-year-old’s attacking instincts could prove particularly handy. The midfielder has two goals and five assists to his name in all competitions despite his limited game time so far.
“If he needs to compete for 30 balls in the air against certain players in this league, I think he is going to lose 28,” Arteta added. “But if we give him the ball in the right spaces, and if we ask him to do some defensive work he can do…
“If we put him in front of goal the amount of times that we want to do, I think he will do really well in this league. But if we do the opposite I don’t think he is going to do well.”
Vieira enjoyed what was a standout season ahead of his switch to the Emirates from Porto. His seven goals and 16 assists in all competitions helped his former side to the Portuguese title last term.
It remains to be seen if Vieira is handed a start against Leicester or Arteta remains with the midfield trio that he fielded in the win over Aston Villa. Granit Xhaka started alongside captain Martin Odegaard and Jorginho.
The Italian was the only one to end the game and played a key role as his thunderous shot found the net via Emi Martinez. Vieira was afforded a brief cameo after being introduced just before the 80-minute mark.
