Arteta demands more from a ‘quality’ Arsenal player despite Glimt win

Arsenal v Bodo Glimt: Pictures

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has demanded more from midfielder Fabio Vieira despite the Portuguese star scoring in the Gunners’ 3-0 win over Bodo/Glimt on Thursday. The north Londoners continued their winning start to their Europa League campaign, but Arteta felt a couple of his players could have done more to prove they deserve regular Premier League minutes. 

Vieira rounded off the scoring in the second half after Eddie Nketiah and Rob Holding scored first-half goals. The 22-year-old tapped home after a weaving run from Gabriel Jesus. 

He has now scored two goals and provided an assist in three starts for his new club, having signed from Porto in a £40million deal. However, Arteta has urged Vieira to better understand organisational play and pressing when his team does not have the ball. 

“You saw the quality every time he’s around the box. He’s a real threat, real intelligent player, really brave,” Arteta said when asked about Vieira. Football.London report that at one stage during the game, Arteta could be heard frequently shouting at the summer signing to get into the correct position. 

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The Spaniard added: “In defending he still needs to do more. [He needs to understand] more because organisation is key when you play against good teams in ball possession.”

Arteta also wants fellow goalscorer Nketiah to prove he deserves to start more games. The former England under-21 captain appeared to bemoan a lack of action since signing a new contract with Arsenal in the summer. 

Nketiah has scored 12 times in his last 15 starts. However, he finds himself behind Gabriel Jesus in the pecking order and must do more to displace the Brazilian. 

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“I am really happy to have him in the team. He has the qualities to play for this team in any role – as a starter, finisher, however you call him. We all love his attitude and the qualities he has so we are happy to have him,” the Arsenal boss said.

“It does and the good thing is today he could have scored a couple more. You have to look at what you have done (which is) great, but what can you do better? 

“That’s his mentality and this is where we want to take him. When you see how he has evolved in the last year or two, he still has a lot of room to do that.”

Arsenal have won nine of their 10 matches this season and go into Sunday’s Premier League clash with Liverpool 11 points ahead of the Reds. 

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