Mikel Arteta confirms Fabio Vieira is ready to face Porto but five players miss out
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Fabio Vieira will be available for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Porto on the road.
The Gunners face the Portuguese giants at the Estadio do Dragao tomorrow and ahead of the game, the club have received an injury boost with the return of Vieira.
The attacker has been on the sidelines for the past few months after a groin surgery. He has managed to prove his fitness ahead of the meeting against his former club.
Speaking to reporters in Porto, Arteta said that he is really happy with Vieira, but also sad that the 23-year-old got injured when he was in a good run of form.
The manager added that Vieira was really pushing to be here and revealed that the club have some inside information as he graduated from the Porto youth system.
He told reporters: “Really happy with him, but at the same time sad. It’s been a tough period for him. But he’s a player with enormous talent and we’re going to get the best out of him.”
“He was really pushing because he wanted to be here. Having an insider as someone who has lived the culture and the club. It’s very important to understand the context of the game. He gave us some important information that’s relevant for us.”
Vieira’s return from injury is a welcome boost for Arsenal. The €28 million-rated star had a lively start to the season with some important goal contributions off the bench.
He will be hoping to contribute in some capacity if he gets the opportunity to play tomorrow.
Aside from Vieira, Thomas Partey was spotted in the open training session today, but he has not travelled with the squad to Portugal.
We are not surprised that the club are taking extra caution with him, considering his injury record.
Alongside Partey, the Gunners won’t have the services of Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu or Oleksandr Zinchenko with minor injuries. Jurrien Timber is also recovering from a serious knee injury.
The Dutch international is pencilled to make his comeback at some point of time in March, but Arteta may not rush him back into the matchday squad until he is fully assured over his fitness.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com