Cedric Soares has backed compatriot Fabio Vieira to adapt to life in the Premier League and says the new midfielder’s courage and intelligence will count in his favour.
While the pace and physicality of English football is something the 22-year-old will definitely have to get used to, Cedric, drawing on his own experience as ‘not the tallest’, thinks the £45 £35 million signing will, in time, get up to speed.
“I’m helping him to settle,” Cedric told ESPN. “Fabio is a very intelligent player from what I saw in Portugal. I never played with him but from what I saw, analysing games and watching his performances, he had a really good season.
“He has fantastic quality. He is a technical player with quality and ability. He has a lot of vision for the last pass as well. This quality that you look a lot for in the players, I think Fabio has got it. I am sure he will adapt quick, he is intelligent you know?
“When you are not physically the strongest, you need to be smart in the Premier League. I am sure he will adapt very well, I have no doubts. [The physicality of English football] is a big change, but me personally, I adapted quite well and I am not the tallest. With Fabio, first of all he has big courage to play. That one for me is a quality. Second one, I see him as a very intelligent player.
“Of course he is very young still, so I am sure he will grow in years in the Premier League. What is intense for him is maybe the rhythm of the Premier League will be much quicker than the rhythm of the league in Portugal. This is something he will have time to adapt, but you can’t change it.”
Having arrived out-of-the-blue and for big money, supporters are certainly eager to see what Vieira can do.
Unfortunately, having arrived with a foot injury he’s only just working his way back to fitness and faces a race against time to feature in the remaining pre-season friendlies against Chelsea and Sevilla.
Elsewhere, Eddie Nketiah has revealed he was assessing several options before committing his future to Arsenal.
The striker looked set to leave the club as his contract ticked down towards free agency but after a run of games at the tail-end of last season, he was convinced that Mikel Arteta would give him the game time he so craves.
“When you’re at that stage of your contract you consider all your options and just weigh it all up,” he told The Athletic.
“I wanted to wait until the end of the season and of course, I had a lot of offers. I sat down with my team and with the manager and my family and we felt like Arsenal was the best place.
“I’m really happy with my decision and I’m looking forward to the future.”
“When you get down to that stage of your contract you’re obviously going to have options and I sat down with my agent and family to go through them all.
“But Arsenal is a great club for me. I support the club and it’s a great project to be part of. I hope I can contribute to that in the future.”
A courageous and intelligent assist maker is a fantastic resume to get you a place in any great team. Welcome Vieira 2.0.
If he gets anywhere close to the achievements of Vieira 1.0 we’ll be very happy! We have several assist makers already,Saka, Ode, ESR etc but happy taht Eddie is stepping up and can take advantage of them, so glad we kept him.
I think we actually lack in the assist department. ESR is a very good player but he’s a finisher not really a creator. MO8 is and Saka to a lesser extent – he puts some balls across the 6 yard box, but his game isn’t to float inside and play a killer ball. Viera is more a compliment to our deadly finishing group (hopefully…I’ve never seen him play!)
Think he was only £30m not 45?
Look forward to seeing him in action
Hope so! Seems nuts he’d be basically the same as Jesus
Yes, I read 30m pounds + 4m pounds potential add ons: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12638004/fabio-vieira-arsenal-confirm-34m-purchase-of-porto-midfielder
Think Andrew must have transposed the Jesus and Fabio costs!
Interesting comment because I think courage is an area Cedric is weak. Good technically but panics under pressure or hits crosses blindly rather than risking taking a moment to make sure there is someone there to receive it.
This Viera from the little I have seen, has none of those inhibitions about playing.
“I’m helping him to settle”
Priceless. 🙄
£45 mill? I always thought it was £35
I thought it was €40m + add ons. Possibly typo in putting that in £s?
Looking forward to seeing him join in the fun & games later on in the season
£45m?! Nah.
Cedric seems well liked in the squad and a very positive influence
Flattering to deceive springs to mind.
I bet he’s the first one out with the cones at London Colney as well. Fact remains he can’t defend for toffee.
But, I’ll say this for him – he’s an expert opportunist celebration photobomber. He makes John Terry look like Lord Lucan.