Xhaka was greatly missed: Vieira still far too green
Many have been saying that Arsenal is nothing without William Saliba. Well, it seems that even without Xhaka, it is hard to see any fluidity in Arsenal’s midfield. The Swiss international may not be seen as brilliant as Partey and Odegaard are, but he is criminally underrated and he undoubtedly brings some balance to Arteta’s midfield.
Against Southampton, due to illness, Xhaka wasn’t available for selection, so Arteta decided to give Fabio Vieira a chance, hoping the 2022 summer recruit would step up. Well, to cut a long story short, Vieira didn’t rise to the occasion; he was poor.
It took Arteta 57 minutes to realise nothing good would come from Vieira being on the pitch. Before being subbed off, ex-PL star Yanick Bolasie was already calling for Arteta to bench the former Porto man, saying, “We need to get Jorginho on for Viera; he looks too nervous for this type of game; we need someone to control the passing in the middle.”
Bolasie’s call was answered, but Arteta didn’t bring on Jorginho for him; instead, he introduced Trossard to the match. Bootomline: Arsenal really needed Xhaka against Southampton, and the tweet below is what every Gooner now understands about Xhaka.
Players like Xhaka, those who refuse to see their value when on the pitch are forced to see it when they aren’t playing.
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) April 21, 2023
Arsenal have now gone three games winless with three draws, which is not a nice return of results for their league title ambitions. Having played two more games than City, the Gunners are at risk of missing out on lifting their first league title in years if City don’t drop points, and they don’t win each one of their remaining fixtures.
Winning the PL wasn’t going to be easy, but Arsenal can still win it by not dropping any other points, which means beating teams like Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle, who are among their remaining fixtures.
Darren N
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Disagree, we did not really need zhaka against Southampton, WE NEEDED A PLAYER WITH ABILITY.
I am not a Xhaka fan either Reggie, despite his much better form this season.
He is still slow and though he seems no longer to be wild all the time – though his brain fart at Liverpool DID cost us the match IMO- I would still prefer someone far more mobile, speedy and just all round better than Xhaka,by next season.
This is still his best season by a distance but even so, we still need better, if we are to really challenge again , next season.
It is said a cow never knows the use of its tail until it, only when Xhaka is not in the team one realizes the importance of the lad.
These are the types of games Xhaka wet his bread in
Xhaka is good at positioning and in aerial duels, but his touches aren’t as consistent as Vieira. I wish we had another left-footed midfielder with all those attributes
Gai, The question is what do the team need in that match? We need what Xhaka offers more. There are other players already with good touches in our team but only Pathey defends better in midfield than Xhaka. And even Xhaka passing range not bad. Viera offered almost nothing yesterday and easily outmuscled by physysical Saints players. Even Saka is string on ball than Viera. Viera is a talented player but he needs more EPL experience to thrive at Arsenal.
I think Vieira needs to work on his physicality and train longer with Martinelli
I agree that he needs more EPL experience. Maybe a loan will give him more playing time in EPL next season
Maybe he needs more minutes or just abit more confidence ,the problem is everytime he gets a chance he does not take it ,I said when we signed him that the reports of him were not glowing and so far those have been right IMO .
You can’t get every signing right ,but it’s knowing when to get rid that separates the men from the boys ,personally I would ship him out come season end without question
Vieira is not up to standard.Just get rid of him and buy a proper midfielder.
Xhaka wasn’t able to play but Vieira definitely wasn’t the answer!
He seems to struggle with the speed and physicality of the Premier League and is unfortunately another of a long list of foreign “lightweights” who would find a great deal more success in the Spanish,French or even the Italian Leagues.
For reasons best known to himself Arteta still hasn’t worked out this player’s deficiencies and stubbornly keeps picking him or subbing him into games for which he’s unsuited…Jorginho or even Trossard would have been far better choices as starters in this game and I really can’t see any long term future for this particular player other than loan and/or sale.That said £30m will be very difficult to recoup.
Vieira was a strange buy regardless of his talent. Totally out of the blue and yet playing same position as Ödegaard and ESR (top scorer last season).
Vieira was a 35 million luxury buy on day 1 when he was signed.
No defense, no physicality, and without tons of space and time he does nothing. Who was surprised that yet again his appearance had a negative impact?
ESR, Jorginho, and Trossard are on the bench, yet again Arteta overlooks better options; almost like hestrying to prove something like he did with Willan.
Unnecessary purchase and waste of money on Vieira, period. Those 35 million could have been spent to upgrade on Nketiah, or quality CM or DM.
ESR is enough to backup Odegaard, especially with Patino making a mark also. Vieira is wasted funds, busted flush, best loaned out to regain value before being sold.
ESR and Patino every time before selecting Vieira, no hesitation.
No disrespect to Viera but I doudt he would even get into the Southampton squad. To me he is that average. I’m not sure what Arsenal saw in him? If he plays against City we are getting demolished. As simple as that. Xhaka gives us a bit of steel and control. Viera may as well sit on the bench. Sorry, just my opinion.
We started this season hoping we would qualify for Champions league.. We are now disappointed the we may not win the title. If you ask me I would say that we have come a long way
Not surprised these kind of comments are coming up, I expected this.
You can try spin it any way you like,to go from an 8 point lead after 3/4 of the season is already done to just being grateful to be in the top 4 is the exact kind of mentality our players have shown in the last 3 games!
You can be happy with that, I certainly won’t be and neither should anyone else. Do you think we’ll be in such a good position again next season or the season after that? Not in League Cup, FA Cup, Europa League with only EPL to fucus on…
That goal that Vieira scored on his debut I think, maybe he’s doing stuff like that in training and that is why he got picked’ It was good to get a look at Trossard in that role, was wondering if he could be defensively adept enough, he certainly has the forward playing ability. Would have been good to see Trossard from the start in that role
I don’t know who scouted Vieira, but Arsenal made a blunder in signing him at £30+ million. I can’t see any reason to suggest an improvement, even if he bulks up considerably. And we’ll never recover even half of that fee.
A loan with the option to buy would be the best for him if he’s going to have a decent career somewhere in a league where he won’t get kicked (literally) out of the game. England is far, far too robust for his flimsy football.
All players that have been loaned, sign or extended….so many mistakes on scouting. Need to improve a lot.
Willian
Tavares
Viera
Lokonga
AMN
Mari
Runnarson
Cellabos
How was AMN a scouting mistake? He joined when he was 8.
Viera being a poor signing is something I can accept. But picking him in a MF role is simply a psychotic decision. If MA has any sense he won’t pick up him in the starting 11 for the remainder of this campaign. ESR, Jorginho or Trossard over him any day of the week.
“But picking him in a MF role is simply a psychotic decision” .. these over the top lame statements again
@M2
I maintain my statement
He does not fit the role this season.
He may be OK after a loan spell of 6 months next year.
My gripe is against MA. He cannot be called a rookie anymore. As soon as I saw the team sheet I was more than reasonably confident that we would not win the game and it turned out that way.
In fact I think we overachieved yesterday.
This is nonsense. Your comment was disgraceful. The fact that the manager chose an option that didn’t work out does not make him psychotic and you some kind of expert.
Please show us what top level team you have managed before you start to throw insults around.
Lol
@ David
You have an opinion that is nonsense.
I disagree.
This is a discussion forum. People have different opinions. You obviously have one. Do you have any coaching qualifications at the highest level?
I maintain my opinion as I have replied to @M2.
If he had ANY sense he wouldn’t have picked him last night. So im not convinced we wont see him again.
Here we go again. Insult one player then realised we are vulnerable without him, then turned to insult the player replacing him, not knowing this is his first season in EPL. Fantastic. Just looking for someone to insult is more important to analyse the game properly.
@ MR
Where have I insulted the player.
You could say I insulted the manager’s judgement (not the manager himself) for picking him against Southampton. Read the comments clearly and my reply to @ M2 in which I state he may be good at a later day.
That is my opinion.
Arteta is a person I have a lot of respect for. He took a pay cut to join us from Everton. I want him to succeed.
I know all AFC fans here want the same thing which is the best for the team and I have never tried to insult anyone on here.
That does not mean I as a fan cannot question the judgement.
If that is the case admin should close the site and not offer a forum for discussion with a statement only positive things about the team and the management will be acceptable. If that is the case I will quit happily.
Viera is rubbish, no way worth 35m, cut our loses and get rid of in summer
I do not care and am going to repeat it.this one is on MA.we had enough quality and options to win last night,the fact that we came back from 2 goals down just proves.when it comes to replacements due to injuries/suspension,I have always preferred a like for like or as close to it.last night,Xhaka(MF) a leader, experienced player couldn’t play, I’m sure Jorginho is the closest thing.then we have a in form player in Trossard on the bench??for that reason I’m not going to blame Vieira,what do you expect when a player is barely getting any minutes,a young,new player as that?
It would be good to know why Arteta refuses to play ESR? He was instrumental before his injury but now he’s overlooked for Vieira? Vieira has offered nothing and has had plenty of opportunities now. I think he’s technically gifted but lacks the physicality needed for this league and more importantly lacks the mental fortitude to impose himself on games. Until he fixes that he will continue to disappoint.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying many opportunities.let’s not forget that it is his first season in the PL.new country,new language,new league…And few minutes here and there.what do you expect?
A “presence on the pitch” is not too much to expect. So far he has been frail and timid, flopping so much it’s ridiculous.
Zero defense, invisible without the ball, and looks completely overwhelmed.
Surely ESR offers more, can’t remember ever complaining about ESR going invisible or not tracking back and defending.
A very biased perspective on ESR. We are all hoping that he will get back to his best but when he has played recently it has been clear that he is still to get back to his best form and fitness.
Because he’s played on the wing, when he does his best work playing through the middle.
Kinda like Xhaka is a terrible DM is PL as last several years showed, but has transformed when played as a CM.
Play to strength of players rather than square pegs in round holes.
I’d say Vieira would be better as a 10, because he has no defense or aggression so he flops when playing that CM B2B position.
“A presence in the pitch”OUCH!!!
He’s played in Europe and in cup games. As Durand stated it isn’t too much to ask just to be accountable on the pitch. Be present in the game.
I feel for poor Fabio Vieira. But if rookie-manager, Mikel Arteta, really believes light-weight Vieira is really ready for prime time at the Emirates then he needs a head exam. Seriously.
Xhaka is best at feeding half spaces in final third position which he has transitioned into in 2023. Else he is pussy in defending, slow in turns, get outrun by opponents and uncontrolable ego temper red card risk. His age is catching up time to go. Viera is is too soft for EPL, plays passively like a link man, not pressing hard enough to create pressure, not speedy, limited run-in skill unlike Trossard. Holding should plan to be retired. His lost lots of speed and reaction. Only his loyalty and experience remain. Somehow he has exposed Ramsdale with insifficient cover and grit at the back which causes 7 goals leakage in the last 3 games alone. All 3 has to go for Arsenal of 2024.
Think the problem is that, Vieira is most probably doing everything right on the training pitch that impresses Mikel Arteta. After all, Arteta said from day one that he will select players with the right attitude and performance on the training pitch. So it looks quite evident to us all that when Vieira is on the main stage, the guy suffers stage fright. He looks like a fish out of water. His physic appearance wise doesn’t look good to the eye. It certainly didn’t help his cause by turning up to Arsenal in the summer wearing a moon boot causing him miss all of the pre season matches. That’s caused his development at Arsenal to go backwards. But yeah,,, I too was surprised to see him called up into the first 11 of the match against Southampton on Friday night (4.30 Saturday morning Aussie time). Not sure how true it is,, but I’ve heard that Smith Rowe has been struggling at training since he’s recovered from his injury. Maybe the reason we haven’t seen him appear. I thought Vieira should have be substituted before half time. Arteta has been ruthless in the past in doing that to players. A loan spell for him is possibly on the cards. Who knows,,, but he does have to beef up a bit
I lost it in thar game he was clean through on goal and tripped. Before now I used to think it was lack of game time and confidence but clearly he doesn’t cut it. He’s abilities are for a luxury team and while they have a good goal caution. He’s almost like Özil, good final ball but lacking in almost every other thing you would demand from a professional level player and with us battling a ruthless City team with good squad depth, we have to be ruthless too. Vieira should be starting for this club, we’ve moved two levels above his quality.