Fabio Vieira’s response to Mason Mount links as Leandro Trossard impresses in new Arsenal role
Fabio Vieira was the center of attention during Arsenal’s game against Southampton on Friday evening. However, his first season with the club has been inconsistent since he was injured and could not participate in a complete pre-season.
Moreover, the excellent performances of Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard in the offensive midfield roles have limited the chances for the young Portuguese U21 player to appear in the Premier League.
However, due to the illness of Arsenal’s vice-captain, Vieira was included in the starting lineup against Southampton, marking only his third start in the Premier League this season. Manager Mikel Arteta was excited to see what the 22-year-old midfielder could bring to the table from the start of the game.
“Very different qualities, this morning unfortunately Granit [Xhaka] wasn’t feeling well so we had to get him out of the squad,” the Spaniard said ahead of kick-off. “That’s why we signed a player like Fabio [Vieira] – very different qualities, much more attacking player, much more of a pocket player, excited to see him in the starting line-up.”
It’s worth noting that Vieira’s rare starting opportunity coincided with reports linking Mason Mount to Arsenal in the upcoming summer transfer window. Given the rumors of Arsenal’s interest in strengthening their midfield options, ArsenalBrief closely monitored Vieira’s performance as a playmaker in the game against Southampton.
0-15
When Arsenal conceded a goal just 25 seconds into the game, the responsibility to respond immediately fell on Fabio Vieira and the other attacking players on the team.
It was evident that the Portugal U21 player was taking on a role similar to that of Granit Xhaka, as he moved towards the left side and tried to coordinate with Gabriel Martinelli. Vieira managed to earn Arsenal’s first corner of the game in the fifth minute by working along the flank.
However, apart from a pass to the box following a delivery from Gabriel Jesus, Vieira had a relatively quiet first 15 minutes of the game. Unfortunately, Southampton’s lead doubled after Theo Walcott scored, making Vieira’s task even more challenging.
16-30
Vieira made a sloppy pass to Jesus that was intercepted, which led to Thomas Partey committing a foul. However, as the game progressed and Gabriel Martinelli scored to pull one back for Arsenal, Vieira seemed to be getting more involved. Nonetheless, Arsenal’s attacks primarily originated from the right side of the pitch.
31-45
In the 32nd minute, a significant moment arose for Vieira as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box. Unfortunately, he was unable to adjust his footing and ended up with an attempt that did not challenge Gavin Bazunu.
Three minutes later, Kyle Walker-Peters made a strong but fair tackle on Vieira. However, Vieira did have a couple of positive moments towards the end of the first half, where he released Martinelli down the left flank before delivering an excellent cross that found the combination of Gabriel Magalhaes and Rob Holding. He could have had an assist to his name.
46-60
Although Arsenal had possession dominance at the start of the second half, Fabio Vieira’s involvement in the game was limited.
However, he came close to getting on the end of Bukayo Saka’s cross, but Lyanco produced a brilliant clearance with his head at the back post. The replays showed Vieira’s frustration, and he immediately gestured for more noise from the Arsenal fans.
Unfortunately, his attempt to cross the ball straight into the hands of Bazunu moments later did not go as planned. That was Vieira’s final contribution on the night, as he was replaced by Leandro Trossard in the 55th minute.
Overall, it can be concluded that Fabio Vieira did not have a great performance for Arsenal against Southampton. He was relatively quiet in the absence of Granit Xhaka, and his substitution in the 55th minute with Arsenal chasing a goal was telling.
Moreover, his replacement, Leandro Trossard, performed well in the advanced midfield position, which may give Mikel Arteta something to think about ahead of the next game against Manchester City. However, Arteta refrained from criticizing Vieira, given the high cost of his signing.
“It was a difficult match for a lot of players I think,” Arteta said in the post-match press conference. “For Fabio he hasn’t had enough minutes. He had good periods but as well when the game starts at 1 or 2-0 and things don’t go your way it becomes more difficult. That doesn’t help.”
It is uncertain what Vieira’s performance against Southampton means for his future at Arsenal amidst rumors of the club pursuing Mason Mount in the summer transfer window.
If Mount does join Arsenal, it could further limit Vieira’s chances of playing next season. However, currently, it seems apparent that Vieira may not be ready to play a crucial role in the Premier League title race.
He needs to demonstrate some progress soon if he wishes to cement his position in the team.
Fabio Vieira’s response to Mason Mount links as Leandro Trossard impresses in new Arsenal role
Fabio Vieira’s response to Mason Mount links as Leandro Trossard impresses in new Arsenal role