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Arsenal fans have been tracking a private flight to London they believe is carrying the man who will replace their injured star Bukayo Saka.
But, instead of an exciting new January signing, the speculation surrounds a midfielder the Gunners signed for £30m two years ago before loaning him back to his home club after he failed to make an impact in London.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed Saka has undergone a ‘procedure’ on the hamstring he injured during the 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on December 21 and expects the forward to miss more than two months of action.
After Arsenal’s unconvincing 1-0 victory against Ipswich on Friday night, Arteta said: ‘I would prefer to leave that with the doctor but he (Saka) had a procedure and will be out for many, many weeks. I think it will be more than two months, I don’t know exactly how much.’
On Saturday, Saka posted a picture of himself on Instagram following surgery and vowed to come back stronger.
Arsenal weren’t at their fluid best at the Emirates with Kai Havertz’s first-half goal from close range all the hosts had to show for their dominance.
Bukayo Saka suffered the injury during Arsenal’s victory at Crystal Palace on December 21
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that Saka will be out for at least two months
Fabio Vieira failed to make an impact during his time at the Emirates but may be recalled
Havertz said the responsibility will be on him and his team-mates to step up and fill the void left by Saka. Havertz told Amazon Prime: ‘Everyone has to step up because we know that Bukayo Saka is a very important player for us. But we have to adapt. I try to help the team, it was a different role for me today.’
And Arsenal supporters believe that Arteta is turning to Porto loanee Fabio Vieira who managed just five league starts in his 49 appearances for the Gunners.
Vieira is on a season-long loan at Porto – from whom Arsenal signed him in 2022 – but the club reportedly have the option to recall him and supporters were anxiously tracking a private flight from Porto to London.
The flight left Porto at 11.09 on Saturday morning – after a one hour 40 minute delay – and touched down in London Biggin Hill Airport, in Bromley, just after 1pm.
One supporter wrote on X: ‘It’s nothing personal Porto we need him more’ but not everyone was thrilled at the prospect of Vieira’s return with another posting ‘Oi, send that plane back we don’t want him’.
Vieira had started in Porto’s last five matches but was left out of the squad entirely for Saturday’s 4-0 win at home to Boavista.
Arsenal supporters were anxiously tracking the mysterious private flight from Porto to London
Fabio Vieira made just five league starts for Arsenal but has been a regular for Porto this term
Porto boss Vitor Bruno dropped Vieira from his latest squad but wants the 24-year-old to stay
Porto manager Vitor Bruno revealed he was unhappy with the 24-year-old and
‘I have to make decisions, pay close attention to the players’ performance and how they view their day-to-day activities,’ Bruno said after Porto’s victory.
‘Fabio is very talented but talent has to be based on a series of pre-conditions. And when one or two of them end up falling apart, it makes everything more difficult.
‘He has immense potential and I have a large squad that offers me guarantees, I cannot give up on certain principles that are mine.
‘I don’t need to pass on any message. Fabio knows me well and we are counting on him. He will be available to play again next week. So it is a question of making decisions.’
Vieira’s exclusion from the squad increased the speculation that Arsenal had planned to cut short his loan spell, however, Bruno insists the midfielder will be staying with the Portuguese league leaders.
Asked if Vieira will stay at Porto for the remainder of the season, Bruno replied: ‘Of course.
‘Fabio has a lot of talent and will be available next week. I have a large squad that offers guarantees and, even if I didn’t, there are assumptions that I cannot give up. He knows that and we are here for him.’
Arsenal’s victory over Ipswich closed the gap to six points on leaders Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table. They next travel to Brentford in a tricky New Year’s Day clash.
