Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Arsenal

sportsmole.co.uk, 26 May 2024, 12:22
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has supposedly been left unhappy with the performances of one of his out-of-favour attackers in training.

The capture of Fabio Vieira from Porto in 2022 was seen as a major coup at the time, as the Portuguese playmaker had registered 14 assists in the 2021-22 Primeira Liga campaign.

The 23-year-old's first few weeks at Arsenal saw him score a long-range screamer in a 3-0 win over Brentford in September 2022, but he has had to accept the role of Martin Odegaard's backup over the past two years.

Vieira has also been deployed on the right wing as a replacement for Bukayo Saka on occasion, but he remains low down Arteta's pecking order and failed to make serious progress in the 2023-24 campaign.

The Portugal Under-21 international came up with two goals and three assists in 17 appearances for the Gunners, and even though his cause was not helped by a serious groin injury, he was seldom called upon when fit.

Bids to be entertained for Vieira this summer?

Since recovering from his operation, Vieira earned just 54 minutes of Premier League football in three appearances, and he was an unused substitute in each of the Gunners' final four games of the season.

Earning just two starts in the 2023-24 Premier League season and last making a first XI in November's EFL Cup loss to West Ham United, The Athletic reports that Vieira's training displays have left a lot to be desired.

As a result, Arteta has apparently not closed the door on letting the 23-year-old leave this summer, even though he is under contract at the Emirates for another three seasons.

Arsenal paid just shy of £30m to prise Vieira away from his homeland in 2022, and the Portuguese midfielder boasts a total of three goals and nine assists in 49 appearances for the North London giants.

Vieira quickly struck up a friendship with Gabriel Martinelli - another player who struggled for form in 2023-24 - upon his arrival, but he could now be allowed to leave in the right circumstances.

Can Arsenal afford to sell Vieira this summer?

Vieira's slight frame stuck out like a sore thumb when he joined the Gunners two years ago, and it was no surprise to see his game time in 2023-24 limited while he focused on bulking up to Premier League standard.

The 23-year-old still does not a fearsome physical figure, but given the unrelenting demands on Saka and Odegaard during Arsenal's pursuit of Premier League and Champions League success, he rightly could have expected more game time.

Arteta is often criticised for failing to rotate his resources, but if Vieira can start to apply himself in training and show that he belongs at London Colney, the Spaniard arguably cannot afford to let him leave.

In terms of replacements for Saka on the right-wing, Vieira is just one of two alternatives alongside Reiss Nelson, who is even further down the pecking order and is expected to head for the exit door in the summer window.

Emile Smith Rowe's future also hangs in the balance too, so if both Englishman end their long-running associations with Arsenal, letting Vieira go as well would leave Arsenal too thin on the versatile attackers/midfielders front.

Top News

17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly held talks with Bologna over the potential signing of defender Riccardo Calafiori. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Switzerland boss Murat Yakin is facing the best sort of selection dilemma up front for Wednesday's Euro 2024 Group A clash with Scotland in Cologne. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Scotland head coach Steve Clarke will be without the services of the suspended Ryan Porteous for Wednesday's Euro 2024 Group A showdown with Switzerland in Cologne. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Table-topping Botafogo could be leapfrogged by Athletico Paranaense in the Brasileiro standings in Wednesday's round 10 fixture at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having suffered the heaviest-ever opening defeat at the men's European Championships, Scotland seek to restore a sense of pride on Wednesday, when they resume Euro 2024 Group A against Switzerland in Cologne. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly decided on their next move in the pursuit of Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly closing in on their second signing of the summer after the player in question passed a medical. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly revealed their asking price for midfielder Thomas Partey, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League keen on the player. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have reportedly identified a player who they view as a potential replacement for Jhon Duran. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly risking the possibility of not being able to sell Armando Broja during the summer transfer window. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hungary head coach Marco Rossi is still sweating over a pair of fitness doubts ahead of Wednesday's Euro 2024 Group A clash with Germany in Stuttgart. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Capable of sealing qualification for the Euro 2024 knockout stages with a game to spare, hosts Germany square off with Hungary in Wednesday's Group A battle at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk FC Cincinnati play host to Philadelphia Union on Wednesday evening looking for the win that would see them at least keep pace with Eastern Conference leaders Inter Miami. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa reportedly hold an interest in signing Famalicao goalkeeper Luiz Junior during the summer transfer window. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal may reportedly be presented with an opportunity to sign a player who endured a calamitous spell at Liverpool during the summer transfer window. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to extend their winning run to three matches, an in-form Charlotte FC will welcome strugglers Orlando City to the Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday night for a MLS clash of massive importance. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly not inclined to meet Chelsea's financial demands for one of their defenders. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England manager Gareth Southgate has given an update on Kieran Tripper's fitness after Sunday's Euro 2024 fixture against Serbia. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Romania vs. Ukraine (Monday, 2.00pm) With the waiting finally over, Group E rivals Romania and Ukraine will kick off their Euro 2024 campaigns on Monday afternoon in Munich. 17 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The feature matchup on Wednesday in Major League Soccer will see the Supporters' Shield leaders, Inter Miami, face the reigning MLS Cup champions, the Columbus Crew, at Chase Stadium. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has revealed the club spoke to Thomas Tuchel about the manager's position. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England midfielder Jude Bellingham eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Serbia at Euro 2024. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England midfielder Jude Bellingham eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Serbia at Euro 2024. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England midfielder Jude Bellingham eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Serbia at Euro 2024. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly been named as the Premier League club that had a bid rejected for Lille defender Leny Yoro. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jude Bellingham and Marc Guehi were the standout players for England, as the Three Lions opened their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 success over Serbia on Sunday night. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England made the perfect start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Sunday evening, recording a 1-0 victory over Serbia courtesy of a first-half header from Jude Bellingham. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham scored the only goal of the match as England recorded a 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening fixture of Euro 2024 on Sunday night. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly prepared to offer two players in a bid to sign Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise.