Arsenal is having a great season and has a chance to win the Premier League and Europa League.
This means Mikel Arteta’s side could have a remarkable end to their campaign if everything goes to plan.
The Spaniard has used a team of mostly the same players for much of the season, with the likes of Fabio Vieira coming off the bench in matches.
In this second half of the term, the Gunners need everyone in their squad to be prepared to contribute whenever they step on the pitch.
This means even if the manager changes most of the team for a game, the same level of performance is expected.
Former Aston Villa man, Gabby Agbonlahor insists the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Vieira must prove they are good enough for the team.
He tells Football Insider:
“You set up a squad of players at the start of the season to use and if they are not good enough they should not be at Arsenal. The likes of Vieira, Smith Rowe have got to come in and prove that they are good enough to be part of the setup.
“If Arteta had his way he would love to rest his players and have them play the remaining Premier League games and not any other competition. But, if you come this far in the Europa League you want to win it.“
Just Arsenal Opinion
Our players deserve credit for how well they have played this season and there is hardly anyone in the group that has flopped.
That does not mean we have seen the best from everyone and we expect even better performances in this closing stage of the campaign.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
WATCH – The Arsenal boss talks about our great game at Fulham, Trossard masterclass, Jesus’ return, and the Arsenal fans..
WATCH EVERY ONE of Mikel Arteta’s and Jonas Eidevall’s Full Press conferences by subscribing to our YouTube Channel – JustArsenalVids
I agree with Agbonlahor 💯 %. The two players in question (ESR and Viera)have to keep pace with age mates, Saka and Martinelli.
ESR has to literally ‘pull up his socks’ and fit in with the team. There’s no “young potential” in him for anyone to bank on. Trials are over.
Smith Rowe has enough credit in the bank to pull through, he has good close control and carries the ball well plus he’s properly built for the league,
The gaffer needs to tweak his style of play while he’s gentle introduce back into the game.
Think we should put Veiria in the shop window by loaning him out.
Start by bringing in two powerful midfielders Onana and Zubimendi/ Rice.
Arsenal should make a fire sale on the following in the summer
Nuno Tavares
Lonkango
Veiria
Pepe
And one or two more
Vieria is going nowhere, he is one for the future, ESR, we know how good he is, he has been out for a long time with his injury, and he will come good
ESR and Fabio Vieira are 2 top quality players currently on the books of Arsenal playing in games for the club. But are mostly played occasionally due to the unrelenting nagging injury suffered by ESR that dated back to last season. But he’s looking to be overcoming the unfortunate injury setback he’s had after having a procedure. And he’s now being gently introduced in matches to play to regain his top goals scoring form. And I think Arteta will start him for our Sporting CP home Europa League Cup match tomorrow if he’s hail and hearty.
Vieira came to Arsenal with injury. But he has since overcome the problem and playing. But he has mostly remained a strong bench in the team but who can also start a match efficiently . I think Arteta will start him for our home Sporting CP match as well.
Fabio Viera is 10x the player ESR is. The two cannot be put in one bracket at all, except for their age.
ESR has been given a plethora of chances to grow up into a first team player, but seems content with warming up the bench. Balogun has overtaken him already, Patino and the other youngsters on loan are going to pass him.
We must keep Viera by all means, and he will stay as long as MA is at the Emirates.
Good one 😂
Mohlanka, that opinion you hold is SO COMPLETELY WRONG that I am bound to wonder if you know anything at all about either player.
I have not seen you on JA before either and doubt that any Gooner at all will agree with you in the slightest.
I think your opinion is incredibly foolish and utterly ridiculous.
Well, let’s just agree on one thing…different strokes, for different folks.
I’ve watched ESR for a long time, and at one point even felt (despite his age then) he deserved a regular spot in the team, but that’s not this Smith-Rowe. He’s lost the spark that together with Saka, made them the brightest prospects in the team. He’s slower, lost his offensive game and confidence to take on players or shoot at goal.
I wonder if that has anything to do with his injury and lack of playing time?
I certainly think so and to say that Viera is ten times the player that ESR is, has to go down in the record books as a classic overstatement.
But each to their own opinion.
For goodbess sake! Surely you are aware he has been injured and out almost the whole season, till recently. You expect far too much when he is patently not totally match fit as yet.
I suspect you are very young with not much experience in watching our team. A silly lot of posts IMO!
And to say Viera who has not done much at all, is ten times the player ESR is, is CRAZY! BONKERS EVEN!
Both players are good to come from bench or to play carabao but not to play PL coz viera will not do any thing when facing players like casemiro or Rodri and also Arteta must look for second choice goal keeper
Jon fox, for the sake of our beloved team I so wish ESR would step up to the plate, use his body size, natural speed and skill to literally kill it. He has attributes that by far surpass Viera’s (except in the areas of ball skills and reading the game), that he’s not using.
By comparison Nelson has done better coming back from injury. We don’t want another case of Abou Diaby at Arsenal.