Arsenal’s Fabio Vieira arrives in Hamburg: “A real prize!” | OneFootball

Two Premier League loanees from London clubs helped Hamburg pick up their first Bundesliga victory in over seven years yesterday. Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic opened the scoring by netting the club’s first Bundesliga goal since 2018. Later, Arsenal’s Fabio Vieira provided the assist on what would prove the match-winner a 2-1 home win over FC Heidenheim.

Vieira’s sensational deadline day signing took the German football world by storm. Together will his fellow GunnerAlbert Sambi Lokonga, the 25-year-old is hoping to help the Hanseatic Rothosen avoid direct relegation back to the German second division. Viera made his first meaningful contribution in his second Bundesliga start yesterday.

Viera couldn’t manage much working on the right wing off the bench in last weekend’s total demolition at the hands of Bayern at the Allianz Arena. HSV head coach Merlin Polzin thus decided to move the heavily capped Portuguese youth international into central midfield. Viera took the place of Nicolas Capaldo and paired alongside Nicolai Remberg in a double-six set-up.

The player who took Vieira’s place on the right flank, French attacker Rayan Philippe, found himself exceedingly grateful. Philippe – also a new summer acquisition – was able to open his goal-scoring account at his new club thanks to Vieira’s 59th-minute assist. Vieira found the proper opportunity to break through on the right and send a cross into the box for the central lurking Frenchman.

“It’s better for Fabio if he plays in the center,” Philippe remarked with a wide grin in the mixed zone.

“Fabio helped us a lot because he can take control of the game and give us peace-of-mind,” HSV keeper and Vieira’s half Portuguese compatriot Daniel Heuer Fernandes added in the mixed zone. “Those are precisely the type moments we need.”

Heuer Fernandes referred specifically to Vieira’s role in Vuskovic’s 42nd-minute opener. It was Vieira who won the free-kick that ultimately led to Vuskovic’s 1-0. HSV head coach Merlin Polzin gave even indication that Vieira would take Nicolas Capaldo’s starting slot from this point forward. The Remberg-Capaldo pairing gave the team two defensive minded sixes. Vieira’s introduction gives Polzin a genuine playmaker.

“Fabio is a player who can make the difference,” Polzin remarked at the post-match press conference. “He’s a real prize! He always manages to make good use of his teammates. That’s why opted to start him in the center. From there, he has even more influence on the game and can push us forward.“

GGFN | Peter Weis