Arsenal have been principally unbeaten this season, however their unbeaten streak lastly got here to an finish on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect have as soon as once more escaped the clutches of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa and presently sit on the high of the Premier League, two factors behind leaders Manchester Metropolis.
It wasn’t a horrible sport between the league leaders, but it surely was a disappointing and probably worrying sport.
What’s extra, this was additionally a sport during which a sure participant was fooled by flattery, a participant who might be Arteta’s worst addition since Fabio Vieira.
What went improper with Fabio Vieira at Arsenal?
Many Arsenal followers keep in mind nicely the summer season of 2022, when Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived from Manchester Metropolis and helped the workforce win their first title in a technology.
Nonetheless, that summer season the membership signed Vieira from Porto for round £34m, a shock but in addition thrilling transfer.
In spite of everything, the Portuguese midfielder had simply completed a season during which he scored 23 targets in 39 video games.
Sadly, aside from the odd flash of brilliance, the Santa María da Feira-born expertise did not make a lot of an affect in his first season in North London, registering simply two targets and 6 assists in 33 first-team appearances.
Issues solely obtained worse the next season, as a mixture of accidents, poor type and suspensions restricted him to only 16 appearances, with one objective and 4 assists.
After two disappointing seasons in recent times, the 25-year-old was loaned again to Porto for the 24/25 season, the place he confirmed gradual enchancment and completed the season with 11 targets in 42 video games.
The Portuguese giants had been left with few different choices as they didn’t need the participant to return on a everlasting contract this yr, however the Gunners agreed to ship him on mortgage to Hamburg once more with an choice to purchase.
Vieira’s Arsenal file | ||
|---|---|---|
season | 22/23 | 23/24 |
Look | 33 | 16 |
the objective | 2 | 1 |
help | 6 | 3 |
Variety of targets concerned per match | 0.24 | 0.25 |
All stats through Transfermarkt | ||
All in all, it is clear that Vieira is a gifted participant, but it surely’s equally clear that he is not, and by no means has been, worthy of taking part in for Arsenal.
Worryingly, the identical might finally be stated of Arteta’s different contracted participant. If he does not enhance shortly, he might find yourself being the worst participant for the reason that Portuguese midfielder.
Arsenal star might be Arteta’s worst addition since Vieira
Total, Arsenal’s summer season enterprise this yr could be described as successful.
For instance, Ewerki Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke all look good or nice thus far.
However there’s one participant who’s extra divisive than most and who’s vulnerable to being labeled a failure if he does not enhance. That is Victor Gokeres.
Now, earlier than the pitchforks and torches come out, there is a good probability the Sweden worldwide proves his doubters improper and turns into the scoring monster Arsenal need from him.
Sadly, there was little signal of that thus far this season.
For instance, the previous Sporting ahead, described by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “powerhouse”, has scored simply six targets in 17 appearances thus far, which isn’t horrible, however not sufficient for a participant who needs to be on the forefront of a title-winning workforce.
Gokeres vs Villa | |
|---|---|
minutes | 50 minutes |
shot | 0 |
Anticipated help | 0.03 |
key go | 0 |
contact | 11 |
Lack of belongings | 6 |
path | 4 |
Cross (correct) | 1 (0) |
All stats by Sofascore | |
Moreover, Saturday’s sport in opposition to Villa was one other one during which he was unable to verify his authority.
The 27-year-old got here on at half-time, however in 50 minutes he had simply 11 touches, misplaced the ball six instances, accomplished 4 passes, did not take a shot and did not create a single huge probability.
It was a worrying end result, and one that would simply see the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus leapfrogging him within the high spots as soon as they’re totally match.
In spite of everything, whereas he has time to make his mark on this workforce, Gokeres has underperformed for Arsenal thus far this yr and is at risk of changing into Arteta’s worst everlasting signing since Vieira.
