Fabio Vieira is set to make his Bundesliga debut in the most unforgiving of arenas, with Hamburg travelling to Bayern Munich on 13 September.
For the 25-year-old, it is an opportunity to do what he could not with Arsenal – test himself directly against the German champions rather than watch from the bench.
“Bayern is one of the best teams in the world. Everyone knows how strong the Bavarians are. It will be a very difficult game for us. I look forward to it. We will prepare well for this. Let’s see what happens,” Vieira told Bild.
The Portuguese added: “We will fight and want to take something from there.”
Vieira arrived at Hamburg on a season-long loan with an option to buy for more than €20 million, a deal completed only in the final hours of the window.
“Everything happened very quickly,” he said. “A few days before the transfer window closed, I spoke with the sports director for the first time. The coach also told me everything about the team, the stadium and the club.
“We are professionals. We have to live with the uncertainty of not knowing where the journey may be going. It was hard for me, of course, but you have to get used to it. In the end it went well.”
The midfielder, who joined Arsenal from Porto in 2022, never fully established himself in north London. Last season he was loaned back to Portugal, and though Stuttgart and West Ham explored moves this summer, he chose Hamburg.
In a friendly against Hannover on Thursday, Vieira showed glimpses of his ability to play between the lines that first attracted Arteta and Arsenal. “I can play as a 10, or act as a right-winger who moves into the middle. I like to be between the lines. I can play passes or score goals from there,” he said after.
Hamburg head coach Merlin Polzin intends to build around Vieira, who will also link up with Albert Sambi Lokonga, another deadline-day arrival from Arsenal.
Before leaving London, Vieira received a message from Mikel Arteta. “His most important tip was that I always have to stay with me, bring my football on the pitch to get the best out of myself,” Vieira said.
Vieira has made 49 appearances for Arsenal, scoring three and assisting 10. His contract with the Gunners runs until 2027 and it is unlikely Hamburg will trigger his option to buy at the end of the season, unless he enjoys an exceptional year.
Even then, €20m would smash Hamburg’s club record fee which currently stands at €14m.