Fabio Vieira has spoken candidly about the challenges he faced during his time at Arsenal after completing a season-long loan move back to Porto. The Portuguese midfielder joined Arsenal in 2022 for £34 million with high expectations, but injuries and limited opportunities left him struggling to make an impact in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Vieira made just 16 appearances for Arsenal last season, and in an interview with *O Jogo*, he revealed that returning to Porto was a decision he initiated. “The idea of returning came from me. I love this club and I’m going to give everything on the pitch,” said the 24-year-old. “I’m happy, obviously, it’s my home. I’m looking forward to being at the stadium, playing in front of these fans and doing the best I can for this club this season.”
Vieira admitted that his time in England had been difficult, with injuries and competition for places limiting his opportunities. “It was a chance that, above all, came to me because it was something I already wanted: to play. I had a difficult time in England, an operation, and at this moment I felt that FC Porto was a good opportunity to continue growing and developing,” he said. “I felt that this was the right place to do it this season.”
At Arsenal, Vieira found himself falling down the pecking order, with players like Leandro Trossard and even youngster Ethan Nwaneri gaining more game time. Despite the challenges, Vieira remains hopeful about his future, both with Porto and possibly at Arsenal, should he rediscover his form. Reflecting on his time in north London, he added, “I have more responsibilities. I can say I’m a different man.”
Vieira also compared the playing styles of Arsenal and Porto, noting similarities in their approach. “Obviously they played in a different style than we play here, but both there and here there are two teams that always have control of the ball,” he said. “Both are very important in football.”
This summer, Arsenal made several changes to their squad, with Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson leaving to join Fulham. In a surprise move, they brought in Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea. Sterling, eager to contribute, spoke about his excitement at joining the Gunners: “It’s a perfect fit for myself to be at a football club like this, where you can see that hunger, that desire, year on year, they are pushing and pushing.”
Sterling, known for his ambition, hopes to make an impact at Arsenal, saying, “Each year you want to get better and do better than the previous year. Hopefully I can gel really well with the boys and get going. It’s time now to meet the boys, get settled in, and hopefully now see some game time and make my mark.”
As Vieira looks to reignite his career in Portugal, both he and Arsenal will be hoping this loan spell will be a step toward rediscovering his potential and regaining confidence for the future.