Although there are four orthodox options for Mikel Arteta's midfield at Arsenal, they have been depleted this season and highlights the desperation to sign a new player towards the end of the transfer window.
With Granit Xhaka's impressive start to the season, Arsenal have found a reborn version of the player they brought from Borussia Monchengladbach. With Thomas Partey, Mohammed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga's injury records, the freedom has quickly been reduced.
Oleksandr Zinchenko does provide a less mainstream choice given his experience in midfield for Manchester City and Ukraine, but Arteta has been reluctant to rely on that as of yet.
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Arsenal signed Fabio Vieira from Porto in the summer, but his profile is less suited to a defensive midfield or No.6 role, instead being an attacking option. The 22-year-old has had a stunted start to life in London, suffering injury setbacks, but has come into the fold more recently, making his Premier League debut as a second-half substitute against Manchester United before his full debut came against FC Zurich in the Europa League.
He completed 69 minutes in Switzerland, the most he has played in a match since late April. Although he couldn't impact the match against United like Arteta had hoped, instead falling two goals behind rather than mounting a comeback, the Portuguese player is building his minutes slowly and has been allowed to adjust to life in England so far.
However, former Gunners striker Kevin Campbell doesn't expect him to break into the team too soon, saying, "It was his first start, and it was always going to be a tough one. Look, the opposition wasn't great. And you know what they are going to do about it? Is make up for it with grit, and that's what they did.
"I thought with Vieira we saw flashes of quality. The one quality we did see was him releasing Eddie [Nketiah] down the left-hand side for the goal. Showed good touches. They had a bit more grit in midfield, and that's what he has to learn. He is playing for Arsenal now. When Arsenal turn up, you are going to get the best of everybody else."
As a creator from midfield, scoring six but assisting 14 in 27 league matches in Portugal last year, his ability to thread passes and make intricate decisions will be a big part of his game with a fluid and exciting attack in front of him. It will be his success when playing in a deeper role that could be the most useful for Arteta, but there's a long way to go, says Campbell.
"At the end of the day, he has to get used to the physicality. People know he can play. People know that if you give him space and time, then he's a good player, and he will hurt you. What's the first thing they are going to do? Stop him playing. Get into him and make sure he can't get his head up.
"He has a lot to learn. He has to build his body up, that's for sure. I thought it was an okay start considering it was his first start."
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