Arsenal maestro Fabio Vieira has shared the extra measures he has put in place to adapt to the Premier League. The Portuguese admits he has found the division to be ‘more physical’.
Mikel Arteta signed the 22-year-old from his academy side FC Porto in July for £34m. Vieira had previously only left the Estadio do Dragao on loan in his youth back in 2015. The U21 international also only enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in Liga Portugal during 2021/22.
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Vieira had only started five Portuguese top-flight games entering last term before opening 15 across the season. The midfielder had also only scored twice and assisted two goals in his previous two campaigns. Yet he ended last term with six goals and 14 assists in his tally.
Life in the Premier League has so far shown the same tentative steps as Vieira’s route into Porto’s first-team. Arteta has only started the Santa Maria da Feira native in one top-flight fixture, plus four games as a substitute. He has, however, opened four Europa League ties.
Vieira details his plan to adapt to the ‘different football’ in England with Arsenal
Arteta gave Vieira his maiden, and so far only, Premier League start in Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Brentford in September. The Gunners were without their captain, Martin Odegaard, at the Gtech Community Stadium. He had taken a knock to his calf in training ahead of the game.
Vieira fired Arsenal’s third goal at Brentford for his first in red before netting and assisting against Bodo/Glimt in Europe. The midfielder has now told Sky Sports he is putting extra steps in place at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground to help him adapt quicker.
“It’s more physical,” Vieira said. “It’s different football. I have a plan for me to work on the gym, doing more physical stuff. Two times a week in the gym.”
Arteta has already urged Vieira to show he can offer more at the Emirates
Vieira will no doubt thrill Arteta by taking on extra training to adapt at Arsenal and to the Premier League. Especially since the Gunners boss has already urged his summer signing to show he can do more. The Spaniard particularly wants to see Vieira improve defensively.
“Every time he’s around the box he’s a real threat, really intelligent player and brave,” said Arteta, via Football Daily. “In defending, he still needs to do more and understand it more because organisation is key when you play against good teams in ball possession.”
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