The £34 million signing of Fabio Vieira by Arsenal in the summer of 2022 was meant to herald a new era of creative talent at the Emirates. Instead, it has become a symbol of a transfer that never ignited, with the Portuguese playmaker now on the fringes and seemingly destined for a permanent exit.
High Hopes and a Slender Build
Arsenal's spending spree in the summer of 2022, which brought in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, is widely credited with transforming the club into title contenders. Joining them was Fabio Vieira, a technically gifted midfielder signed from Porto for £34 million on a five-year contract. His profile – slight and creative – echoed the Arsene Wenger era, but he stood out even then for his notably slim physique in the physically demanding Premier League.
After an injury-delayed start, Vieira made his full debut against Brentford in September 2022, scoring his first goal. However, he largely found himself confined to substitute appearances, while Jesus and Zinchenko became key figures. By January 2023, manager Mikel Arteta's reluctance to use him was becoming clear.
Neville's Accusation and a Career Stalling
The situation came to a head during a 0-0 home draw with Newcastle. Pundit Gary Neville, commentating for Sky Sports, pointedly noted that Arteta's decision not to bring Vieira off the bench showed a lack of faith. "Arteta, he looks at £34million Vieira on his bench and doesn’t bring him on, so he doesn’t have faith that he’s going to improve the team," Neville said.
Vieira's first season ended with just one goal and two assists in 501 Premier League minutes. The following 2023/24 campaign was worse; deployed sporadically on the wing, his playing time dwindled further. A red card against Burnley and a subsequent groin injury limited him to a mere 54 minutes of football after November 2023. It became evident that Vieira did not meet the physical demands of Arteta's system, which increasingly relied on powerhouses like Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
Loan Exits and an Uncertain Future
Seeking playing time, Vieira returned to Porto on loan for the 2024/25 season, eventually finding form with 11 goals in 42 appearances. Despite this, he was deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal last summer. With no acceptable permanent offers, the club loaned him out again, this time to Bundesliga side Hamburger SV until the end of the current season.
His time in Germany started poorly with two red cards in his early games, but he has since shown flashes of his talent, registering two assists and a goal in his last four outings. Nevertheless, the writing appears to be on the wall. Fabio Vieira is expected to leave Arsenal in the summer of 2026, bringing a disappointing close to an expensive chapter that promised much more than it delivered.
