Arsenal returned to action this afternoon for the first time in three weeks with their Dubai Super Cup opener against French side Olympique Lyonnais. The Gunners were without all their World Cup stars for the fixture at the Al Maktoum Stadium but there was a prime opportunity for a number of members of Mikel Arteta's squad.
With no Granit Xhaka, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus to call upon, the friendly against Laurent Blanc's side provided squad players with an opportunity to impress. But for two specific individuals, it was a chance to earn their place in the starting XI against West Ham United on Boxing Day.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Jesus had undergone surgery to treat the knee injury he picked up at the World Cup. There remains no timeframe on the 25-year-old's return meaning the Gunners must seek an alternative for the return of their Premier League title battle with Manchester City.
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Alongside Martin Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah, Arteta opted for Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira on either wing. Both players have mainly been used off the bench and in the Europa League due to Saka and Martinelli providing the goods on the field.
However, with Jesus out of action for the time being, there is a space in Arteta's attack. The pair were in good form in the opening 45 minutes of the friendly as the Gunners cruised into a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Gabriel, Eddie Nketiah and Vieira.
Nketiah showed exactly why he should be starting in the number nine position with a calm finish to double Arsenal's lead before Vieira showcased his Portuguese magic with a near-replica of the goal scored against Brentford.
After a neat exchange on the edge of Lyon's box, the 22-year-old took a couple of touches before curling the ball into the top corner. The former Porto man has struggled to adapt to English football after his £34million move to north London, however, he has shown glimpses of the 'special talent' Arteta identified the playmaker with.
Vieira's performance in the Middle East has prompted a surprise inclusion among Arteta's 4-2-3-1 system. The Portuguese's display off the left provides Arteta a fresh idea going into the return of league football this month.
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