Arsenal Summer Signing Fabio Vieira Names His Favourite Position

Arsenal’s new young starlet Fabio Vieira has spoken about his role in an evolving Arsenal squad.

Having signed from Portuguese outfit FC Porto this summer, the 22-year-old is keen to make an impression, and he told the media where he sees himself fitting best into this young Arsenal side. 

A hallmark of the Gunners' recruitment process is versatility, signing players capable of operating to a high level in multiple positions.

Both Vieira and Arteta are aware of the versatility the Portuguese star possesses.

"The manager told me he knows I can play as a midfielder — No 8, No 10 — or on the wing, left side or right side," Vieira said.

"They know I am a versatile player."

An inability to dominate large swathes of the game was inhibitive last season, with Arteta’s side often resorting to dropping into a deep-block as their preferred methodology of controlling a game.

However, with the versatility of Vieira, the potential for two technically proficient 8’s in front of Thomas Partey means that Arsenal can now adopt the “death by one thousand passes” philosophy, starving teams of the ball.

What will be interesting is whether both Odegaard and Vieira operate as 8’s together. With both players being left footed, which of the two would occupy the left half space?

Odegaard’s game could well elevate a level were he to transition to the left half-space, yet his connection with Bukayo Saka is a core tenant of Arsenal’s attacking make-up.

This leaves Vieira as the likely candidate to fill that 8 role, and time will tell whether that role suits him best.

Despite that, the 22-year-old is also more than capable off the wing, which serves Arteta in good stead in terms of giving Saka much needed rest. 

Whilst Vieira is very open about the versatile nature of his game, he is in no doubt as to what position is his favourite:

"I prefer no.10. It is my real position."

Arteta has shown a willingness to alter his formations, so a return to a 4231 certainly isn’t out of the equation.

That said, in all likelihood, the Arsenal faithful will see Vieira operating as an 8 in the coming season, a tantalising prospect.