Former Arsenal hero Gilberto Silva is backing Fabio Vieira to showcase his ‘enormous ability’ at the Premier League challengers and bounce back from a difficult second season under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners boss confirmed, ahead of Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Burnley at Turf Moor, that Fabio Vieira was on the comeback trail, his return to action potentially just days away.
But even when the Portuguese playmaker is back to full fitness again, nailing down a spot in Arteta’s first-choice midfielder will be easier said than done. Vieira was already struggling for game time before being struck down by injury on the other side of Christmas and, since then, Kai Havertz has stepped up while Emil Smith Rowe makes a long-awaited return of his own.
Fabio Vieira yet to convince at Arsenal
Gilberto Silva is not giving up on Vieira just yet, however, the Arsenal ‘Invincible’ convinced that the gifted if waifish 23-year-old can still prove to be value for money, even at £30 million.
“He’s a great player,” Gilberto, the former Brazil international, tells O Jogo. “In terms of his style and the coach’s vision, he’s very close to (Martin) Odegaard. He has good ideas and dynamics, but he has to recognise that and the quality he has.
“I think he’ll be utilised more. He’s got enormous ability, he just needs to get loose.”
Gunners face Porto in the Champions League
There remains a feeling that Vieira, hardly the most physically imposing players, would benefit from toughening up a little, the pace and the power of the Premier League leaving him on the periphery at times.
Vieira, according to Football London, could be back in the Arsenal squad for the trip to his old employers FC Porto in the Champions League knock-out stages on Wednesday. Arteta’s free-scoring side will take on the Portuguese giants at the Estadio do Dragao before welcoming them to the Emirates three weeks later.
Thomas Partey has also been spotted back in training.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
