Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira is currently at the Club World Cup with FC Porto as he continues his loan at his boyhood side.
Once FC Porto’s campaign in the United States concludes, Fabio Vieira will return to Arsenal this summer, a player Mikel Arteta was originally so keen to sign for the Gunners.
Arteta was delighted when Arsenal bought Vieira in 2022, a creative maverick who was hoped to be a big player for the Gunners.
However, the 25-year-old seemingly left on loan last summer to pave a way for exciting Hale End graduate Ethan Nwaneri, a decision that looks very well advised on reflection.
And with Vieira still under contract with Arsenal until 2027, new sporting director Andrea Berta has seemingly inherited a difficult situation to solve in the coming months.
Despite Vieira impressing at Porto on loan last season, the midfielder’s Club World Cup started off on a rather disappointing foot in a 0-0 draw with Palmeiras on Sunday.
Vieira played 82 minutes in a number 10 role against the Brazilian side, but he was largely ineffective throughout.
The Arsenal loanee has actually impressed in a deeper role in recent months at Porto, but manager Martin Anselmi decided to put Vieira just behind the striker in New Jersey.
And when reflecting on Vieira’s performance, Portuguese outlet A Bola gave the Arsenal man a 5/10, bemoaning a display which lacked risk or much creativity at all.
Arsenal's Fabio Vieira fights for the ball at the Club World Cup.
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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They wrote: “He always seemed to be on the fence, not knowing whether he should take more risks in attack or help close down his side. He was between one thing and another.”
Of course, that is the kind of performance that will prevent Vieira from forging a future at Arsenal, and it might even see the Gunners struggle to sell him this summer too.
Andrea Berta can show his worth by solving Fabio Vieira conundrum
In all honesty, Berta probably needs to find a permanent solution for Vieira over the coming months.
Arsenal are signing Martin Zubimendi for a deep-lying midfield role — Vieira isn’t needed there, nor does he quite have the physical attributes to play that position in the Premier League.
And in terms of operating as a number 10, Arsenal plan to use Nwaneri to compete with Martin Odegaard next season, there’s no space for Vieira there, either.
Therefore, Arsenal need to sell Vieira this summer whilst he’s still got two years left on his deal — it will be a lot more difficult to recoup value in 12 months’ time.
Edu was poor at selling players at Arsenal, and whilst Berta will be predominantly judged on what striker the Gunners sign this summer, he can really show his worth by finding an adequate solution for players like Vieira.