Pundit Danny Murphy believes that Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira is too lightweight to play against Manchester City today.
Fabio Vieira replacing Bukayo Saka ‘didn’t work’ against Lens as Arsenal weigh up their lineup against Manchester City.
That’s the verdict of pundit and former England international Danny Murphy, who has been speaking to the Daily Mail.
The big one is here with Arsenal hosting Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.
Tipped as the main two contenders for the Premier League title once again, this is a game that will have been circled on the calendars of many since the fixture release.
Arsenal will be desperate to lay a real marker down against City but may have to do it without Bukayo Saka…
Bukayo Saka injury leaves Danny Murphy worried about Arsenal
Saka went off injured in the first half against Lens in midweek as Arsenal fell to a 2-1 defeat in France.
There have been mixed noises about the injury in recent days; Mikel Arteta suggested that it ‘didn’t look good’ after the Lens defeat.
Arteta has since indicated that Saka is ‘in contention’ to play, meaning that he must be recovering fairly well.
If Saka misses out, then Arteta will have to find another solution down the right flank.
That could be Reiss Nelson, but it was Fabio Vieira against Lens – something pundit Murphy doesn’t want to see again.
The Portuguese playmaker doesn’t have the dynamism of Saka and Murphy believes that he is just too ‘lightweight’ to play in a game of his magnitude, even if he is a very ‘gifted’ player.
“There are injury concerns over Bukayo Saka. If he doesn’t make it, I’d put Gabriel Jesus on the right and Eddie Nketiah down the middle. City would be rushed into making passes,” said Murphy.
“When Fabio Vieira replaced Saka against Lens, it didn’t work and he wouldn’t be what I was looking for in a match as intense as this one. He is gifted but still relatively lightweight,” he added.
Vieira didn’t exactly shine against Tottenham Hotspur
£34million signing Vieira was given a chance in a big game just a couple of weeks ago, starting against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.
The 23-year-old made next to no impact though and was substituted at half time with Arteta clearly unimpressed.
We aren’t expecting Arteta to have completely given up on Vieira but going to him in another big game would be a big call.
Gabriel Martinelli’s injury means that Leandro Trossard is set to start on the left flank.
Vieira on the opposite side just wouldn’t give Arsenal the direct ability needed against City, so it could be Nelson or even Gabriel Jesus on the right side – if Saka doesn’t recover in time.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
