“I had a difficult time in England,” says Arsenal 24yo | OneFootball

Fabio Vieira has opened up about his struggles during his time at Arsenal, admitting he faced challenges during his stint in the Premier League.

The Portuguese midfielder, who joined Arsenal from FC Porto in the summer of 2022 for £32m (€40m), made only 49 appearances for the Gunners, contributing just three goals and nine assists.

CARSON, CALIFORNIA – JULY 24: Fabio Vieira #21 of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring a goal against AFC Bournemouth during the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Having returned to Porto on a season-long loan, Vieira explained his decision to leave north London. “The idea of returning came from me. I love this club, and I’m going to give everything on the pitch,” Vieira told O Jogo. “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.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Fabio Vieira of Arsenal leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on November 11, 2023. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Reflecting on his difficult time at Arsenal, Vieira admitted, “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. I felt that this was the right place to do it this season.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Fabio Vieira of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Despite his struggles, Vieira believes his time in the Premier League helped develop his game. “I have more responsibilities. I can say I’m a different man. Obviously, they played in a different style than we play here, but both there and here are teams that always have control of the ball. Most of the time, they are in possession of the ball, in offensive processes, but we also have the defensive process – both are very important in football.”

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)

Vieira joined Arsenal in 2022 with high hopes after making a name for himself at Porto. However, he found it difficult to break into Mikel Arteta‘s first team, with Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe ahead of him in the pecking order. Vieira’s limited opportunities saw him make just 49 appearances for Arsenal, leading to speculation about his future as early as this summer.

Fabio Vieira in training with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal on Twitter)

On August 27, just days before the transfer window closed, Arsenal sanctioned Vieira’s return to Porto on a season-long loan. His former club welcomed him back, handing him the No. 10 shirt, and the 24-year-old hopes to revive his career in the Primeira Liga, where Porto will next face Farense.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 09: Fabio Vieira of Arsenal is tackled by Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on November 09, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta was reportedly keen on keeping Vieira in the squad for the season, especially with Arsenal competing across multiple competitions. However, with limited game time available and the midfielder in need of regular minutes to develop, Arsenal opted to loan him back to Porto.

Fabio Vieira with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

The Gunners did not include an option for Porto to make the deal permanent, meaning Vieira will return to London at the end of the season and the more Vieira plays, the less Porto will have to pay Arsenal.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal celebrates with Fabio Vieira following the team’s victory in the penalty shoot out during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

For now, both Arsenal and Porto hope Vieira will benefit from regular football. His return to Porto also gives him the opportunity to reconnect with fans who have long admired his talent. “It was a chance that, above all, came to me because it was something I already wanted: to play,” Vieira said, explaining his desire for more playing time.

Fabio Vieira playing for the Arsenal u21s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)

Though his loan deal keeps him at Porto for the season, Vieira remains under contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2027. The Gunners will reassess his situation upon his return next summer, with a decision to be made on his long-term future.

CARSON, CALIFORNIA – JULY 24: Fabio Vieira #21 of Arsenal FC is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against AFC Bournemouth during the first half at Dignity Health Sports Park on July 24, 2024 in Carson, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

If Vieira performs well during his loan spell, it could lead to either a return to Arsenal or a permanent move elsewhere with Arsenal recouping most, if not all, of the fee they paid for him.

FC Porto’s Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira claps during the Portuguese league football match between FC Arouca and FC Porto at the Municipal de Arouca stadium in Arouca on February 6, 2022. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

As Porto pushes for silverware this season, Vieira will be eager to make the most of his second spell at the club.

His performance in the upcoming Primeira Liga fixtures, starting with Porto’s clash against Farense, could be crucial in shaping the future of his career.