MIKEL ARTETA has revealed that one Arsenal star is “very close” to starting more games amid the club’s Premier League title charge.
The Gunners currently sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League table despite a recent dip in form.
Following a 3-1 defeat to fellow title challengers Manchester City, Arteta’s side bounced back with a stunning 4-2 win over Aston Villa last weekend.
The Arsenal boss made two changes to his regular starting line-up ahead of the crunch clash at Villa Park, with Leandro Trossard replacing Gabriel Martinelli and Jorginho stepping in for Thomas Partey.
But he could be forced into making another shift very soon, with one midfielder giving him “headaches” because of his “tremendous” qualities.
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leicester, Arteta revealed that summer signing Fabio Vieira is close to earning more game time.
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When asked about how close the 22-year-old was to making another league start, the Spaniard said: “Very close.
“He is starting to give me big headaches because I see every single day what he is capable of doing. A tremendous player.
“He now understands exactly what we want and physically he is a condition to compete at the right level in this league.
“He brings qualities that we don’t have in the squad. Very eager to give him more.”
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Arteta added: “If he needs to compete for 30 balls in the air against certain players in this league, I think he is going to lose 28.
“But if we give him the ball in the right spaces, and if we ask him to do some defensive work he can do.
“If we put him in front of goal the amount of times that we want to do, I think he will do really well in this league. But if we do the opposite I don’t think he is going to do well.”
Vieira has started just one Premier League game so far this season, with Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard both the preferred starters in midfield.
But he played a pivotal role in helping Arsenal to the top of Group A in the Europa League.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
