FC Zurich vs Arsenal: Can Fabio Vieira force his way into the first team?

It may not have the same gravitas and splendour as that of Europe’s premier club competition, but Arsenal will nevertheless make a thankful return to the continental stage this week when they launch their Europa League campaign away to Swiss side FC Zurich.

The 2022/23 edition is expected to be an important experimental arena for manager Mikel Arteta as he tries to appease his talented squad with the promise of vital gametime. A focus on rotation and defeat in Manchester suggests there could be opportunities for hitherto peripheral figures to stake a claim for increased domestic minutes on Thursday, and one player who will surely relish the chance to shine is new Portuguese technician Fabio Vieira.

Despite a somewhat understated arrival at the club and delayed first-team integration, Vieira has drawn favourable comparisons to some of football’s finest creators and he showed his quality in an encouraging 15-minute cameo at Old Trafford. The 22-year-old impressed in tight spaces and was very direct with his pass selection, while he demonstrated a refreshing willingness to shoot when in promising offensive positions – take note, Ø.

Although the performance itself is admittedly not much to go on, these moments offered us a glimpse of what Vieira can do and his role in the Arsenal team will unquestionably grow as the fixtures pile up, beginning with the trip to Zurich.

FC Zurich encounter is Fabio Vieira’s chance to force his way into the Arsenal first team

The former Porto star will likely be one of many to earn their first start of the season and he can use his European pedigree to help the Gunners begin the group phase on a positive note. Goal contributions and eye-catching displays against Liverpool and Lyon last season depict his comfort and composure in high-pressure situations.

A midweek outing will be of particular value to Vieira as some fans are already familiar with his ability and believe more exposure could even see him displace captain Martin Odegaard in the side, with the classy Norwegian’s passive style and penchant for the extra pass often the cause of great frustration that could be remedied by our summer signing.

However, Vieira’s rise to prominence does not have to pit the two midfield maestros against each other. Arteta may instead use this Swiss outing to test their on-field compatibility, as Odegaard is a competent operator from deep and could therefore enable his teammate to play further forward, where we can exploit his aggressive passing and shooting choices to unlock the opposition.

Injury issues and strength in depth have forced us to be patient but, after a slow start to life in north London, Vieira is now ready for action and will get plenty of time on the pitch over the coming weeks.

The stage is set at the Stadion Letzigrund, and the headline act is about to arrive.