Andy Brassell has claimed that Arsenal’s soon-to-be signing, Fabio Vieira, is a ‘terrific’ player, as he told talkSPORT.
The European expert added that the Porto midfielder is someone who ‘hits his pass every time’, with the Portuguese club confirming that Vieira will join Arsenal.
Whilst Porto have publicly come out and shared that Vieira is heading to the Premier League, Arsenal themselves haven’t confirmed anything.
Either way, it seems as though Mikel Arteta will be adding to his midfield numbers ahead of Arsenal’s return to the Europa League next season.
Nonetheless, this is the insight Euro expert, Brassell’s, shared about Vieira, his style of play and how there was previous interest in him from Bournemouth.
“It’s funny. I look at him and he’s a terrific player, no doubt about it,” said Brassell. “He is on the way up. There have been Premier League interest in him for a while because Bournemouth were looking at him, going back two or three years, before he even got into the Porto first team.
“So, he’s not a mystery to Premier League clubs. He has great balance. Economical on the ball. He knocked out an assist a game last season. I think 16 in 16? He’s scoring more goals. He doesn’t try lots of risky passes.
“If he’s going to cut through the defence, he hits the pass every time. I think he will thrive in narrow spaces in the Premier League.
“He’s also from a very physical Porto team, so I don’t think the physical gap between Portugal and England as it used to be. I just wonder if Arsenal already have a lot of players in that position already. Obviously, they play more next season because they are in Europe.
“But Fabio Vieira is only getting started. He will get into the Portugal team. It will take time.”
WHERE DOES VIEIRA FIT IN?
Whilst Vieira will provide much-needed depth and quality to Arsenal’s midfield, it wasn’t a priority signing once the summer transfer window opened.
The main issue of concern for the Gunners is who will be their centre-forward next season after the recent departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and now Alexandre Lacazette.
But Arteta has seemingly added to his creative department, with Vieira now competing with the likes of Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe for places.
If Arsenal are to return to the Champions League, then they need to be able to maintain their performances in the Premier League whilst they are in Europe.
Given that they didn’t have European football last term, yet still they missed out on the Champions League, then that isn’t a great sign for the club.
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