Yahoo Sports “I had a difficult time in England,” says Arsenal 24yo
Fabio Vieira has opened up about his struggles during his time at Arsenal, admitting he faced challenges during his stint in the Premier League.
The Portuguese midfielder, who joined Arsenal from FC Porto in the summer of 2022 for £32m (€40m), made only 49 appearances for the Gunners, contributing just three goals and nine assists.
Having returned to Porto on a season-long loan, Vieira explained his decision to leave north London. “The idea of returning came from me. I love this club, and I’m going to give everything on the pitch,” Vieira told O Jogo. “I’m happy, obviously, it’s my home. I’m looking forward to being at the stadium, playing in front of these fans, and doing the best I can for this club this season.”
Reflecting on his difficult time at Arsenal, Vieira admitted, “I had a difficult time in England, an operation, and at this moment I felt that FC Porto was a good opportunity to continue growing and developing. I felt that this was the right place to do it this season.”
Despite his struggles, Vieira believes his time in the Premier League helped develop his game. “I have more responsibilities. I can say I’m a different man. Obviously, they played in a different style than we play here, but both there and here are teams that always have control of the ball. Most of the time, they are in possession of the ball, in offensive processes, but we also have the defensive process – both are very important in football.”
Vieira joined Arsenal in 2022 with high hopes after making a name for himself at Porto. However, he found it difficult to break into Mikel Arteta‘s first team, with Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe ahead of him in the pecking order. Vieira’s limited opportunities saw him make just 49 appearances for Arsenal, leading to speculation about his future as early as this summer.
On August 27, just days before the transfer window closed, Arsenal sanctioned Vieira’s return to Porto on a season-long loan. His former club welcomed him back, handing him the No. 10 shirt, and the 24-year-old hopes to revive his career in the Primeira Liga, where Porto will next face Farense.
Mikel Arteta was reportedly keen on keeping Vieira in the squad for the season, especially with Arsenal competing across multiple competitions. However, with limited game time available and the midfielder in need of regular minutes to develop, Arsenal opted to loan him back to Porto.
The Gunners did not include an option for Porto to make the deal permanent, meaning Vieira will return to London at the end of the season and the more Vieira plays, the less Porto will have to pay Arsenal.
For now, both Arsenal and Porto hope Vieira will benefit from regular football. His return to Porto also gives him the opportunity to reconnect with fans who have long admired his talent. “It was a chance that, above all, came to me because it was something I already wanted: to play,” Vieira said, explaining his desire for more playing time.
Though his loan deal keeps him at Porto for the season, Vieira remains under contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2027. The Gunners will reassess his situation upon his return next summer, with a decision to be made on his long-term future.
If Vieira performs well during his loan spell, it could lead to either a return to Arsenal or a permanent move elsewhere with Arsenal recouping most, if not all, of the fee they paid for him.
As Porto pushes for silverware this season, Vieira will be eager to make the most of his second spell at the club.
His performance in the upcoming Primeira Liga fixtures, starting with Porto’s clash against Farense, could be crucial in shaping the future of his career.
