Arsenal endured a challenging spell earlier this season when Martin Odegaard was sidelined for two months due to injury. During the Norwegian’s absence, the Gunners struggled to find the same level of creativity and control in midfield, resulting in several underwhelming performances. Fans were quick to question the decision to allow Fabio Vieira to leave the club on loan, particularly when he seemed like the most suitable backup for Odegaard.
Vieira, who is spending the season on loan at FC Porto, was a logical candidate to step in for Odegaard. However, with his absence coinciding with the captain’s injury, Arsenal faced a noticeable gap in their midfield setup. Odegaard’s recent return to fitness has rejuvenated Arsenal’s performances, but the decision to let Vieira leave remains a contentious topic among fans and pundits alike.
When questioned about the reasoning behind Vieira’s loan departure, Mikel Arteta explained the move during an interview with Arsenal Media. Arteta said:
“We allowed Fabio [Vieira] to go as well because we wanted to create the room and the space for Ethan [Nwaneri]. He has given us every reason to trust him. He’s shown that he’s ready to make the next step, and it’s great to have him.”
Nwaneri, one of Arsenal’s brightest young talents, has been given the chance to step into the first-team environment, but he is not yet ready to start regularly. This has led to further debate about whether keeping Vieira, an experienced playmaker, might have been the better short-term decision.
While Nwaneri continues to develop, Arsenal’s decision to loan out Vieira highlights their commitment to nurturing young talent. However, the team may have paid a price in the short term for prioritising long-term growth. Nwaneri could be more prepared for a larger role next season, but Vieira’s absence this year has left a void when Odegaard was unavailable.
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Vieira is still far behind Odegaard. His absent/presence wouldn’t have a significant efect to the team. Arteta is right to give him more playing time by loaning him and giving Nwaneri grow into the first team. Imho, Nwaneri is beter than Vieira..
but arteta didn’t use Nwaneri when necessary…though protecting him or so and costing us to lose lots of point
Why did Arteta let Vierra leave? Its no secret but he is s4!#
Absolute waste of good money.
Another player, we may have to pay someone to take him off our hands.
I agree Reggie, this article seems to be trying a whitewash on two fronts.
1. Protecting whoever bought a player who hasn’t made the grade.
2. Making excuses for not playing Nwaneri when he was ready.
If anyone believes Vieira could have filled Odegaard’s position, they’re living in cloud cuckoo land.
👍 I don’t get the article at all.
Think the Portuguese should best left alone
Fabio Vieira can’t say that he was not given an opportunity. He just seems to be a very timid personality that is not built for the EPL or Top level football.
He hides a lot.. And I can’t stand players like that..
We have to accept that he was a poor signing today.. Let’s see what Arteta does with him at the end of the season..
It would be interesting to know how he is getting on at Porto. Who knows, he is young enough to develop and fulfil the promise the powers that be saw in him.
If not then it is an expensive losing bet.
Stranger things have happened in football.
One of the players made by media hype:
Next Bernardo Silva. Next . . .
The guy looks peckish for an athlete. Impossible for EPL wonder. I can only praise his shooting ability but that opportunity for utilisation isn’t going to come often for him because such is created by lots of intelligent movement and power.
Maybe try him in the “Jorginho role” where he can sit back, like a housewife . . .
Forward is not his thing.
Not in the EPL.
Guy looks like a girl amongst men.
Just STFU. You don’t talk down on a man like that, just because he didn’t perform to you taste. How many matches did Vieira play last season and the season before that?
I agree Baron, I nearly deleted it just for the sexist connotations
Baron:
You can open your mouth wide as you want. I won’t ask you to shut up, it is irrelevant to me whether or not you do.
There are certain things a football eyes does not need as much as fifteen minutes to see.
You might’ve been his agent – I don’t care. If I cared, I’d congratulate you for selling sawdust for the price of wheat.
There are essentials for success in the EPL, and just about anywhere else. Your player lacks most of them for EPL greatness. I would pick his shooting over Ødegaard’s but that’s just it – nothing else. As for how many matches I’ve watched him play:
enough to know he is slow, weak, lacks stamina even after being introduced in the later stages of the second half.
Not that he is lethargic, I certainly won’t accuse him of that, but he lacks tools that can make opponents suffer much from his presence and efforts. EPL opponents are going to enjoy having an easy target on the turf to bully.
He might be the most wonderful person on earth, a good friend, loving, responsible, professional . . . . but I’m talking about football abilities and what we see in the games and training; not whether or not he is a responsible citizen or my daughter’s boyfriend.
You want enough opportunity given him to show your football taste is miserable, try elsewhere, not at Arsenal.
Thank you.
Thrill,
I’m getting the vibes you don’t like him then😂.
No need for the Housewife comment though.🤦♂️
Derek:
I have nothing against him on a personal level as not to like him.
It is the combined footballing capacity which he has shown to possess that doesn’t tickle my fancy. It doesn’t strike as close to top level rating.
As for the housewife . . . . metaphorical.
Mikel Obi, Makelele, Jorginho . . . housewives role example. No disregards towards housewives. No need, maybe.
but
If you are getting vibes I don’t like him:
Well, that’s your vibe, not mine.
😁
I’d like him better, playing every week, at Manchester United.
Thrill,
Your getting to deep here, I was just having a friendly joke hence thee Emoji.
I didn’t for a minute think you disliked him as a person.
Your entitled to your opinion on him as a player no question.
But as I said earlier, you going to deep.
Derek:
Alright.
🤔
You like Manchester United.
👹
Thrill,
Where in my piece do you get the idea I like Manchester United.
Actually Makele, etc were called watercarriers, not housewives
@Admin Pat:
Noted.
Watercarriers can be used to describe people of low value. One might write that and certain people come out attacking.
The English language has words and structures that are analogous and can be twisted to suit purpose.
@Admin Pat: I appreciate your input / moderation without assailment.
“Watercarriers” well taken down.
Nice.
Thats why I’m here!
But you just made another faux pas (thats french) because your statent could be taken as you think housewives are “people of low value”!
I understand that you not a fluent uk speaker but you don’t do too bad, just don’t mention women again eh?
Also Makele was definitely NOT considered low value….
Thanks AdPat
I was going to make the connection regarding women collecting the water. However, when English is a second language then misunderstandings can occur. We all have the right to be treated equally and fairly- it’s not much to ask.
@Admin Pat:
You are amusing me with dance around semantics.
Anyone can just about twist things and make them appear to be what they think some other person thinks.
Language is there to be toyed with, sometimes.
Makelele . . . The powers that be didn’t think so highly of him when he left Real.
But I do get your ultimate message:
don’t mention women!
Grabbed.
What do you mean by sit back like a housewife?
Ignore him SueP he’s obviously just a misogynistic idiot looking for a reaction which of course worked as we are all commenting on him! Best ignore him in future and don’t give him air.
👍
GB: I can see you crying. Take heart.
What exactly annoys you?
GB
I can just about see you crying.
What irks you
Is it Vieira on loan or something else?
Is it the housewife word?
These days, some men are known to stay at home while their wives go to work. Perhaps I should have written “househusband” instead.
That seems to be the more socially correct terminology to apply in this context. Househusband. My bad.
👐🏻
Okay . . .
Announcement!!!!!
SUBSTITUTION:
Housewife OUT
♻️
Househusband IN
He should be given the househusband role.
Perfect English.
Anything else?
Thrill,
Why are you verbally attacking GB, a few people on here may have agreed with the misogynistic quote, but it was GB who felt the need to say it out loud.
Maybe it was calling you an idiot, that got you rattled. (Or is his misogynistic quote a bit near the bone for comfort).
Derek:
I might respond to your question here and some literary professor jumps on it to preach on lexis and structure.
You’ve mentioned ” his ” .
That’s likened to male gender.
l might write that and a section refer to it as derogatory . . .
So I don’t know how to refer to GB as it might be AI, a chat bot or something.
I can’t be so sure.
SueP:
While others go to work, a housewife stays at work.
That would imply for a midfielder to:
Stay back while others mass attack
stay withdrawn from bumping up and down the turf
distorting direct bombardment of center backs by opponents
help keep the goal area free from chaos
picking loose balls and transitioning from defence to attack in a flash where possible
avoiding excessive mazy runs with the ball
avoiding high risk dribbles around the defense area
taking up half spaces for fullbacks when they move high up
knitting simple passes between close team mates and attempting crazy ones, sometimes
help transition from defence to attack with minimal movement
joining the attack once in a while and getting some odd goals.
That’s more like the combination of a very well withdrawn attacker and an advanced defender with more emphasis on safety and simplicity.
Not the position of laze and unproductivity.
Basically the role of one who has the intelligence and discipline to play midfield with minimal boisterousness.
But should anyone expect him out, dominating opponents like a warrior, delusion is very near.
It’s easy to write people off. Let me ask you Ken, after Odegaard’s loan in Arsenal weren’t you one of the people who never wanted him signed permanently, because you think he is not good enough?
Yes I was one of those fans who didn’t want him and I’ve said it was one of the many mistakes that I’ve made during my life as a Gooner.. but it was my opinion at that moment in time.
I was wrong.
It’s my opinion that Vieira is a waste of money and not good enough for the PL.
If he proves me wrong, I will gladly admit it and watch him blossom under Mikel Arteta.
Let’s hope your opinion is better than mine regarding this player 👍
The next Bernardo Silva.
Hyper media hype.
Looks peckish for the EPL.
Maybe try him in the Jorginho role where he can sit back home like a housewife . . .
Else, loan to a ( mid to bottom table ) championship team where he might learn the necessity for physicality.
Otherwise sell.
Looks like this write-up can be concisely put:
Vieira was sent on loan to create space only for Nwaneri to be benched, irrespective of what happens.
I may be wrong though.
The article is quite straightforward. Nwaneri has been getting playing time. Vieira has the opportunity to play in a different environment. So far Vieira has not reached the levels expected but an evaluation can take place at the end of the season. There is no need for the unnecessary scorn directed his way.
Nwaneri is able to play and develop without undue pressure.
Like the “acorn” directed at Havertz before he had even signed for us David?
Or the “scorn” directed at Raya?
At least with Vieira, we have had the opportunity to see him play, as MA has given him the opportunities to showcase his talents and that’s how I, personally, base my opinion of him as a footballer.
ACORN! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I’m going nuts!!!!!!!
You win some and lose some and Vieira hasn’t stood out. A lot of money spent on a permanent player who has managed a few super goals but looks like a gust of wind would blow him over
I don’t know if he’s improved back in Portugal- I hope so for his sake.
I don’t think Nwanieri is far off getting more game time. He looks like a young man who knows where he’s going and brims with confidence in his ability
Vieira had his chances when fit, but failed to capitalize. Too slow on the wings, and lacks the strength to tussle with defenders.
Invisible and almost hides in the midfield, lacks the strength and presence to have an impact. Add there is not a defensive bone in his body.
Quite frankly, 34 million was spent on hope which did not pan out. Some players are not good fits for the PL environment, Vieira is a good example.
Time is better spent developing Nwanarei rather than wasting those opportunities on Vieira.
Thanks Durand.
Vieira’s physicality or lack of it makes him look like one who is perpetually injured or fatigued.
He has the brain, but his movement and power is too junior for EPL ferociousness.
That hope was misappropriated.
Arteta says he let Viera go out on loan to make room for Nwaneri.
It’s a pity he didn’t do that in the previous two seasons, to make room for a certain Smith Row.
Instead a lot of the time Smith Row had to sit on the bench and watch Viera get the nod more often than not to coming on from the bench.
Smith Row could have done a good job covering for Odegaard this season. But we’ll never know now will we.
👍👍
Derek:
I might respond to your question here and some literary professor jumps on it to preach on lexis and structure.