Arsenal handed Fabio Vieira injury boost ahead of Porto Champions League tie | OneFootball

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Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira is hoping to make the squad for the first leg of the Gunners’ last-16 Champions League tie in Porto next week.

Vieira underwent groin surgery in November but he is stepping up his recovery and is close to returning to full training.

The 23-year-old is optimistic he can make his comeback over the next fortnight after not playing for three months.

Vieira’s return will be a boost for Arsenal, who have been hit hard by injuries in midfield recently.

Fabio Vieira has been out since November

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Emile Smith Rowe missed Sunday’s win over West Ham with an ankle issue and Thomas Partey is still recovering from a thigh injury picked up in October.

That forced Arteta to have three academy players on the bench last weekend and 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri came on to play the final 15 minutes in midfield.

Vieira had featured in eight of Arsenal’s 13 Premier League games before his injury and scored in a 5-0 win over Sheffield United in October.

He was sent off in his last League game for the Gunners - a 3-1 win over Burnley in November - but played and scored for the club’s Under-21 side three days later.