In the lead-up to Arsenal’s highly-anticipated Premier League clash against Manchester City on Wednesday night, former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has suggested that summer signing Fabio Vieira will not be starting for the Gunners.
even if Granit Xhaka is not fit to play. Instead, Campbell believes that Leandro Trossard may be the one to come in for the Portuguese midfielder.
Vieira, who joined Arsenal from Porto for £34 million last summer, started in the Gunners’ recent match against Southampton, which saw them drop crucial points in their Premier League title charge. The 22-year-old has had a difficult time settling into English football, having scored just one goal and provided two assists in the league so far this season.
With Xhaka’s fitness in doubt, Campbell suggested that Arteta may need to tinker with the midfield and move Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko up the pitch, allowing Trossard to play in a more advanced role. The former Arsenal striker stated, “If Xhaka’s not back, then I think the extra nouse of Trossard that could be a difference-maker… I don’t think Vieira plays, no. He won’t start.”
Campbell believes that Vieira is not yet ready to handle the intensity of a game against a team as strong as Manchester City. While the Portuguese midfielder is playing for a team that is at the top of the league, it does not guarantee that he will produce the goods.
Campbell’s recommendation to bring Trossard back into the fold is a sound one. Since Gabriel Jesus’ return from injury, the Belgian midfielder has been relegated to the bench. However, with Arsenal in desperate need of a win against City, Arteta should consider including Trossard in the starting lineup.
The match against Manchester City is arguably Arsenal’s biggest game of the season, and Arteta will need to make the right decisions if he wants his team to come out on top.
With Xhaka’s fitness uncertain, Arteta may need to take a chance on Trossard and give him the opportunity to shine in the advanced midfield role. While Vieira has shown promise at times this season, Campbell’s recommendation to leave him out of the starting lineup is a wise one given the magnitude of the game.
Arsenal face a tough test against Manchester City on Wednesday night, and former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has suggested that Fabio Vieira will not start for the Gunners, even if Granit Xhaka is unavailable.
Instead, Campbell believes that Leandro Trossard should be given the opportunity to make an impact in the advanced midfield role. Arteta will need to make the right decisions if he wants Arsenal to come out on top against a formidable Manchester City side.
