Arsenal midfielder Vieira to return to FC Porto on loan

Fabio Vieira will go back to FC Porto on loan from Arsenal after Mikel Arterta could not guarantee him any minutes. 

Athletic’s David Ornstein, an Arsenal correspondent and reliable source is reporting this news. 

According to Ornstein, Vieira is unhappy with his lack of minutes and the expected arrival of Mikel Merino which could steal the starring role he has been hoping for. 

Due to injuries, the midfielder has struggled for regular matches for the Gunners, making only 15 appearances last season, with one goal and three assists. Vieira’s absence from the match with Aston Villa seemed to reaffirm his return to Invicta, where he shone before he went to London. 

His exploits since joining Arsenal in 2022/23 has been overshadowed by injuries. In that campaign Vieira made a total of 33 appearances, with two goals and six assists. However, last season he only played 16 times and the last time he started was in November 2023, in the League Cup. When he came back to the club in February, he only played 57 minutes. 

This pre-season, Vieira was back in the side and has been in good shape. But European champion Mikel Merino arriving and homegrown talent Ethan Nwaneri emerging will rob him of minutes he does not want to concede. On that note, he has accepted a return home after an excellent season in 2021/22, where he scored 7 goals and made 16 assists, which got him a move to Arsenal for up to €40m.