LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Fabio Viera celebrates with Ben White of Arsenal after scoring their team's third goal during the UEFA Europa League group A match between Arsenal FC and FK Bodo/Glimt at Emirates Stadium on October 06, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“Absolute velvet foot” Pundit raves about Fabio Vieira

Oct 7, 2022

Fabio Vieira was voted Man of the Match by Arsenal fans following his first start at home and BT Sport’s Joe Cole couldn’t say enough nice things about him after the game.

Arsenal's Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team third goal during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and Bodoe/Glimt at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)Arsenal's Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team third goal during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and Bodoe/Glimt at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) — Arsenal’s Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team third goal during the UEFA Europa League Group A football match between Arsenal and Bodoe/Glimt at The Arsenal Stadium in London, on October 6, 2022. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Fabio Vieira is an impressive footballer. Of that we can now be sure.

Grabbing his second Arsenal goal, and first assist, he finished the match as the highest rated Fotmob player in the game with 8.9, seeing out Rob Holding’s equally impressive 8.7.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1578128033654997016

Speaking after the match, Joe Cole told BT Sports, “At these types of clubs there’s always going to be competition.

“What I love about Vieira is that finish is absolutely brimming with confidence. He’s gone ‘I’m going to put it in the roof of the net with my left foot and open the body’.’

“Everything he does is with purpose and he’s one of those technicians with an absolute velvet left foot.

“He’s got the competition in Odegaard but this guy is a fantastic player.”

Vieira’s start to life at Arsenal was delayed by an ankle injury that he arrived at the club with but he seems to be finding his way, showing why Arsenal paid £31.5m to Porto for him in the summer.