Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira has opened up on his relationship with Mikel Arteta at the Emirates Stadium. The Portuguese has also shared what he is noticing about the Spaniard.
Arteta signed Vieira from FC Porto in June for £34m to add further creativity to his options in north London. But the Spaniard has so far seldom utilised the 22-year-old in the Premier League. He has only featured for a combined 133 minutes from five outings in nine games.
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Vieira also had to wait until September to make his English top-flight debut after watching three games from the bench. Arteta carefully introduced the playmaker into the top-flight after he started the season sidelined after a minor foot problem sustained in the summer.
Fabio Vieira believes it is ‘important’ that Arsenal see a ‘very emotional’ Mikel Arteta
Despite not getting much game time in Arsenal’s league-leading start to the season, Vieira has a blossoming relationship with Arteta. The playmaker relishes the enthusiasm the 40-year-old shows and he believes it is important that the Gunners squad can see his passion.
“The communication is easy,” Vieira told Sky Sports. “I like Mikel, he’s a good coach. The way he talks with the players is amazing. Everyone understands what he wants, everyone knows what he wants for the team. For me, it’s easy to play for a coach like this.
“Sometimes when I’m on the bench, you can see him. You can see him from the bench or from the pitch – [he is] very emotional, you know? But this is part of him. As a coach this is important. He only wants to help us and he wants the best for the players.”
Fabio Vieira will likely get a front-row seat to the Mikel Arteta show on Sunday
Vieira is unlikely to get just his second start of the Premier League season when Arteta and Arsenal visit Southampton on Sunday. The Porto product could not capitalise on his latest opportunity to impress in the Europa League at home to PSV Eindhoven on Thursday night.
He was not at his sparkling best before Arteta replaced Vieira with Martin Odegaard while still level at 0-0. So, the 22-year-old will likely have to hope for his fourth-straight Premier League fixture as a substitute. Arteta has only started Vieira at Brentford in September.
The midweek meeting offered Vieira the perfect chance to show Arteta he is ready to play a greater role in the league. He had wasted a late cameo away to Leeds United last week after failing to settle the pace of the game. But Vieira’s corner did lead to a late chance.
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