How will Fabio Vieira’s impending arrival impact Arsenal’s other transfer business?

Arsenal’s sudden move for Porto midfielder Fabio Vieira was the Thursday afternoon surprise that every Gooner didn’t know they wanted.

Frustration had been brewing among impatient supporters over the apparent lack of progress regarding the pursuits of their priority targets, but a stealthy Edu Gaspar has rapidly changed the outlook of the club’s summer.

The deal for Fabio Vieira quite literally came out of nowhere. The 22-year-old is one of Portugal’s most venerated young midfielders and, judging off his output and ever-trusty YouTube compilations, it appears that the Gunners might be onto a winner.

Despite his rather tender age and relative inexperience at a senior level, the Under-21 international has the potential to make an immediate impact in north London. Think Bernardo Silva pre-Manchester City. That’s what I see in Fabio Vieira.

However, his unexpected arrival has many questioning how Arsenal’s other transfer dealings will be affected.

How will Fabio Vieira’s arrival impact Arsenal’s other transfer dealings?

Fabio Vieira is a playmaker who can perform multiple functions. He likes to operate from the central zone, but he can also create from both the left and right-half spaces. In Mikel Arteta’s 4-3-3, I expect him to compete with Martin Odegaard for the right-sided #8 spot in the starting XI, but his versatility means Arteta could utilise him as a #10 if the boss shifted to a 4-2-3-1, a false nine, or an inverted right-winger.

Thus, the 22-year-old’s impending arrival shouldn’t have any impact on the club’s pursuit of priority midfield target Youri Tielemans. On Friday, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Gunners are still working on signing the Belgian international, but they’ve yet to submit an offer to Leicester.

Tielemans differs from Fabio Vieira in that, if he was to join, he’ll be competing – and surely usurping – Granit Xhaka as the left-sided #8. The Belgian is a controller, while Fabio Vieira is a bonafide playmaker who has the potential to evolve into the City iteration of Bernardo Silva. That’s the ultimate fantasy.

However, I do wonder whether Arsenal will continue to shop for a high-output winger which I still think they need. Fabio Vieira’s production for Porto combined with his ability to provide cover for Bukayo Saka may convince the hierarchy that such an extra forward is now unnecessary.

The future of Nicolas Pepe will go a long way in determining whether and when the club make their move for another wide player.

Overall, Fabio Vieira feels like a bonus addition. Arsenal don’t need a player of his profile and there are certainly more pressing priorities, but, importantly, it doesn’t appear that his arrival will impact the club’s other business. The 22-year-old is brilliant competition for Odegaard, and I think he’ll evolve into Arteta’s Swiss Army knife at the Emirates.