03 September 2023 , 06:30
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Fabio Vieira showed a new side to his game as Arsenal set themselves up for what looked like being a comeback win against Fulham, but he - as much as anyone else in North London - will need to ensure the result doesn’t detract from the performance after the Gunners conceded a late equaliser.
Back in the 2007-08 season, Theo Walcott had two of his most influential games for Arsenal. First to turn things around against Birmingham in the league after Eduardo’s early horror injury, and then to give Arsene Wenger ’s Gunners an away-goals lead against Liverpool in their Champions League quarter-final.
On both occasions, of course, the lead didn’t stick. Now it’s Vieira who has to contend with his impact being overshadowed by even later disappointment, but there are reasons to believe he can do just that.
Arsenal didn't have things all their own way against Fulham. Andreas Pereira's early opener could have stopped the Gunners in their tracks, only for Mikel Arteta's side to rebound and take the lead before switching off to allow their opponents to steal a point.
Arteta said his team was 10 times better than in the corresponding game last season, even though they escaped that with victory after struggling to deal with Aleksandar Mitrovic.
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The comeback owed a lot to the introduction of Vieira shortly before the hour mark. Some eyebrows were raised when it was him rather than Gabriel Jesus introduced from the bench, but the midfielder showed a vital turn of pace to trick Kenny Tete into conceding a penalty, and then played a perfect ball across for Eddie Nketiah to put the hosts in front.
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Fabio Vieira had a hand in both Arsenal goals against Fulham (TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)It didn't lead to victory, thanks to Joao Palhinha's late equaliser. However, even after the scores were levelled, Vieira was closer than anyone to adding a match-winning third.
First there was the acrobatic volley which Bernd Leno pushed back into the danger zone before breathing a sigh of relief that no one was there to turn in the rebound. Then, right at the death, a long-range effort needed tipping over by Leno, denying Vieira a sensational winner.
It would have been no less than he deserved after a thrilling cameo. And Arteta certainly took notice.
Vieira was left disappointed after the draw with Fulham (AFP via Getty Images)“I’m really happy with the impact of the subs and the way they came in,” Arteta told reporters after the game. “With Fabio delighted for him because he hasn’t played any minutes this season.
“To see a player that comes with that determination and the positivity to impact the team that he had it’s difficult to see. I’m really happy for him.”
It doesn't feel like a coincidence that - in the days after the game - reports emerged of Chelsea's interest in Emile Smith Rowe. Vieira appears to have well and truly supplanted the Englishman as Arteta's preferred option, and may well have a big role to play against Manchester United this weekend.
Kai Havertz was the man to make way for Vieira on Saturday, and the summer signing hasn't had the best of starts in the league. The German appeared to lack confidence in front of goal, struggling despite his solid pre-season form, and the uncertainty down Arsenal's left side might prompt a change.
There's also the question of left-back, where Oleksandr Zinchenko or Takehiro Tomiyasu could replace Jakub Kiwior, while Jesus or Eddie Nketiah may end up stepping in for Leandro Trossard up front after earning an England call-up.
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Vieira managed just 16 minutes across two meetings with Manchester United last season. Now, though, there's a chance for him to take another big step and show why Arteta regards him so highly.