Mikel Arteta admits Fabio Vieira could make his return after three months out when Arsenal take on the former Portugal Under-21 international’s old employers FC Porto in the Champions League next week.
Saturday’s trip to Burnley will come too soon for Fabio Vieira. But, with Arsenal set to board a flight to Iberia for the Champions League last-16, there might just be a seat on the plane for a man who was last seen in a Gunners shirt all the way back in November.
Vieira has missed the last three months following groin surgery.
But Arteta is not ruling out the prospect of the talented playmaker making his return to first-team action against the side where he emerged as one of Portugal’s rising stars, Vieira swapping Porto for Arsenal to the tune of £30 million in the summer of 2022.
Fabio Vieira on his way back for Arsenal
“There is a chance, yes,” Arteta tells Football London when asked about the prospect of Vieira featuring at the Estadio do Dragao in red rather than blue.
Vieira was sent off in his most recent appearance, red carded in the 3-1 victory over Burnley six weeks before Christmas. He has two goals and four assists this term, and his return would give Arteta another option for the attacking midfield positions with Kai Havertz shifting into a centre-forward role of late.
The former Manchester City assistant is also hopeful that another long-term absentee – 30-year-old Thomas Partey – will be back in contention sooner rather than later. Partey has been out of action for even longer than Vieira, last seen during October’s 1-0 win over title rivals Manchester City.
Gunners face Burnley on Saturday
“There’s not big set backs. Thomas Partey is progressing really well,” Arteta adds. “It’s looking very good, and he’s on the field already (in training).
“Hopefully (Partey will be back in) a couple of weeks.”
Arsenal are third in the table going into this weekend’s fixtures, two points behind a Liverpool side who were made to work hard to get past Vincent Kompany’s Burnley side last time out.
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