3 reasons why Arsenal fans should be excited about Fabio Vieira’s arrival

wrapped up a deal believed to be worth up to €40m</a> with Porto for the 22-year-old’s services, Vieira, a Portuguese Under-21 international, is set to sign a five-year deal with the Gunners following the completion of his medical.</p> <h2>3 reasons to be excited about Fabio Vieira’s arrival</h2> <p>This left-field signing was one that very few foreshadowed, but Vieira has the potential to make an immediate impact in north London. Here are three reasons why supporters should be/are rightly excited about the midfielder’s arrival.</p> <h2>1. Incredible creative output</h2> <div id="attachment_126976" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-126976" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2138,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1237476138.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2138" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1237476138.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1237476138-768x513.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Vieira registered 14 Primeira Liga assists last season despite starting less than 50% of Porto’s league games. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Unfortunately, the availability of detailed Primeira Liga statistics are scarce online and, admittedly, the only time I’ve seen Fabio Vieira kick a football <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"https://twitter.com/mariEscobarSSX3/status/1537493772061515776" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that isn’t accompanied by Bruno Mars’ Runaway in the background</a> came at last year’s Under-21 European Championships, where he was named Player of the Tournament.</p> <p>The 22-year-old was the creative hub of a mightily gifted Portuguese side that reached the final, and in his first full season of senior football, the playmaker emerged as Portugal’s most productive creator. Despite starting less than 50% of Porto’s league games last season, Fabio Vieira still led the Primeira Liga assists chart with 14. That’s pretty darn impressive.</p> <p>The midfielder’s ability to nail the ‘final ball’ with unerring efficiency helped him to such a stellar haul, while he can create from several zones of the pitch.</p> <p>As I’ve noted in other pieces, he reminds me of Bernardo Silva before Pep Guardiola got his hands on him. His low centre of gravity makes him incredibly tricky to tackle with the ball seemingly sticking to his feet in tight areas. He’s excellent between the lines, and he also boasts the ability to create and finish with both feet.</p> <p>In short, his variety, efficiency and technique make him one of Europe’s most exciting young playmakers.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #2 to be excited about Fabio Vieira </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>2. Flexibility</h2> <div id="attachment_126977" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-126977" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1370107184.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1370107184.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1370107184-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Fabio Vieira can perform several different functions. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>Fabio Vieira’s technical proficiency, production, and leadership qualities undoubtedly intrigued Mikel Arteta, but it’s arguably his flexibility that’ll have the Arsenal boss most excited.</p> <p>Porto boss Sergio Conceição is a 4-4-2 man who plays a direct and physical brand of football. However, when Fabio Vieira entered the fray, Conceição often shifted his system to facilitate the sumptuous playmaker.</p> <p>According to <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fabio-vieira/leistungsdaten/spieler/537598" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transfermarkt.com</a>, Fabio Vieira was used in six different positions last season, including left-back. Primarily, though, he operated as an attacking midfielder with Conceição’s rigid 4-4-2 morphing into a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1. The 22-year-old excels in the central zone, but he also enjoys creating off the right flank.</p> <p>Passing angles are aplenty for a left-footed playmaker in the right half-space, and Fabio Vieira doesn’t mind wandering into that zone from time to time.</p> <p>Overall, Fabio Vieira’s technical mastery, space interpretation and astuteness allow him to perform several functions to a high level. He’s a jack-of-all-trades playmaker, and I’m sure Arteta will have a lot of fun with him. The 22-year-old could feasibly play as both a left- and right-sided #8, a #10 in a 4-2-3-1, a false nine or an inverted right-winger.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #3 to be excited about Fabio Vieira </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2>3. High-quality depth</h2> <div id="attachment_125848" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-125848" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1394824006.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, MO" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1394824006.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1394824006-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Martin Odegaard might have some competition… (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>For some, Martin Odegaard was Arsenal’s Player of the Season after his move from Real Madrid was made permanent last summer. The Norwegian skipper emerged as one of the Premier League’s most proficient creators, but there’s no denying that he burned out towards the end of the campaign.</p> <p>While he finished the season on a high with a starring performance against Everton, Odegaard had previously looked lost in the defeats to Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Newcastle that undermined Arsenal’s pursuit of a top-four finish.</p> <p>However, such anonymity can be expected from time to time when he was relied so heavily upon by the manager. Only Bukayo Saka (38) made more Premier League appearances than Odegaard last season (36). Mikel Arteta simply didn’t trust anyone else to perform the Norwegian’s role to his lofty standard last season. But, in Fabio Vieira, the manager now has more than ample cover.</p> <p>As we noted, the 22-year-old can perform multiple functions, but I initially expect him to compete with Odegaard for his spot in the starting XI. The Porto midfielder will surely earn regular minutes in the Europa League group stages and the domestic cup competitions early on, handing Odegaard some much-needed respite.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="6HPG7FBmEo"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/how-will-fabio-vieira-impact-arsenal-transfer-business/">How will Fabio Vieira’s impending arrival impact Arsenal’s other transfer business?</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/3-reasons-arsenal-fans-excited-fabio-vieira/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/17/how-will-fabio-vieira-impact-arsenal-transfer-business/embed/#?secret=6HPG7FBmEo" data-secret="6HPG7FBmEo" width="500" height="282" title="“How will Fabio Vieira’s impending arrival impact Arsenal’s other transfer business?” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>Fabio Vieira is a talent that Arteta will rely upon to perform several roles to a high standard. He’s the epitome of high-quality depth at this stage, but he has the potential to evolve into a star at the Emirates.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">