Guardian Angel from Celeste: The second piece of the puzzle

If memory serves me right, I wrote an article about Alexander Hleb weeks before he signed for us as a special feature article and he actually joined us in the end. Unfortunately, I did not do an article for "The Beast" from Spain and he went to Real. This time I decided to do an article for a man who plays a position many would argue to be the most important position in need of strengthening. Who would be the man to stand between the sticks? Jens Lehmann? Manuel Almunia? Our two young goalkeepers? Most importantly, who would play our first two Champions League games when both Lehmann and Almunia are out through suspension and injury? Yes, this is the man who they dubbed the most talented goalkeeper in South America. Uruguayans dubbed him only second to Dida from South America. I bring to you – Sebastián Viera, current undisputed number one keeper of Uruguay.

Uruguay? Keeper? That ring a bell doesn't it? We used to be linked with a goalkeeper from Uruguay, who was also very talented but chose to go somewhere else – Fabian Carini. Viera, who is currently only 22 years old, has ten caps to his name and played very well for both club and country.

Personally, I had only seen him play a few games and I have to admit he's a quality keeper with lots of talent. In the Uruguay vs Brazil game, he managed to make excellent saves and frustrate the Brazilian strike force, forcing Brazil to win the match on penalties. I figure that this man should be the one to be Arsenal's number one for the upcoming years.

Viera's goalkeeping talents run in the family. His father and trusted adviser Mario Viera, was also a goalkeeper of note and represented Uruguay at the FIFA World Youth Championship Japan 1979. "I've always loved goalkeeping. I never played in any other position because for as long as I can remember I wanted to be like my father," said Viera.

Sebastian Viera was born in Florida, Uruguay on the seventh of March 1983. He is 1.85 metres tall and weighs 83kg. The young Viera began his footballing dream at his hometown club Quilmes of Florida after an initial spell at another of the city's sides Atlético. From there, Sebastián moved to Nacional where he worked his way up through the reserve sides of a team that produced great players like Daniel Fonseca, Alvaro Recoba and Richard Morales. His first division debut was on the 27th of January 2004 and his great performances led Nacional to finish first in the Torneo Apertura, the opening tournament of the year. His form received good reviews and his chance for international football came.

Uruguay coach Jorge Fossati, a former keeper himself, called up Viera as a standby goalkeeper for the Copa America, held last July in Peru. Fabian Carini was expected to play injuries ruled him out from the squad.

"I remember it was for the Peru and Colombia fixtures, and I was to be third-choice keeper. I got a call from the team's press officer telling me I had to report for international duty. I hung up the phone and immediately told my family, who couldn't believe how cool I was handling the news. The truth of the matter is that I simply could not believe it," Viera adds jovially.

In that tournament, Uruguay lost two straight games and Fossati realised he need to make changes as veteran Luis Barbat looked shaky in both games. Viera's international debut came in the Copa América in Peru against neighbours Paraguay. Viera played exceptionally and his side won 3-1.

"I've always been a huge fan of the national team, so for me, playing in that game was very special," says Viera, who is still coming to terms with the acclaim he is receiving. "I've even been stopped in the street by supporters of Nacional's fiercest rivals Peñarol and been congratulated and given encouragement. That sort of thing doesn't happen every day."

Viera's first FIFA World Cup qualifier came against Ecuador on 5th September 2004 in Montevideo. Uruguay won that match 1-0 and then headed to Argentina for the next game a few days later. However, in Buenos Aires, Fossati's charges crashed 4-2 - a scoreline that would have been considerably worse had it not been for Viera's efforts between the posts. Nonetheless, he grabbed the headlines again a month later in La Paz, where his phenomenal saves earned him a unanimous man-of-the-match award in his side's goalless draw against Bolivia. The player then rounded off a glorious six months by winning the Apertura (Opening) Tournament in Uruguay with his beloved Nacional.

"I am very fortunate in that many of my dreams and ambitions in football are quickly coming to pass: to play in the first division, to win the championship with Nacional and to play for my country - after just over 30 top flight appearances. I don't know what else I can wish for right now", says Viera who would one day like to play in the English Premier League.

When asked about who his favourite goalkeepers are, Edwin Van der Sar who could be his main rival in the league, Colombia's Oscar Córdoba and the famous José Luis Chilavert. He actually has a similar trait to our very own temperamental keeper 'Mad Jens'.

"I'm very confrontational, which might explain why I've always been a huge fan of José Luis Chilavert. My father is forever telling me that I should be more careful, but I just don't know how to stay quiet when there's something on my mind. In an environment like that of football, always saying what you think can get you into trouble. But that's the way I am and the way I'll always be," says Viera defiantly.

In Uruguay, the press have been busy coming up with an array of nicknames for him, the best of which have been the 'goalmouth guardian angel' and 'the octopus'.

"That's how it should be," says Viera. "So far, they've all been kind, but if they were to dub me something I didn't like, then they'd be hearing from me pretty quick," he adds laughing.

Martin Liguera, an experienced midfielder who plays with Viera at Nacional is not shy to state what he likes best of Viera's game.

"I especially like his personality, being such a young player he knows how to approach almost every play that confronts him and some how always makes the right decisions no matter how difficult they may seem" he said. Viera also shows he's confident and this will be important should he sign for us.

"I feel that I am very agile, I've got good reflexes and that gives me the confidence I need when defending the goal, no matter what opposition I face" says Viera.

Viera describes the prospect of joining Arsenal as "a dream" but he will be aware that the move to Europe has not always gone smoothly for Uruguayan keepers. Carini looked a world-beater until moving to Italy, where too much time on the bench has robbed his career of its momentum and recently a similar fate has befallen Gustavo Munua in Spain.

According to an article in the BBC, culture shock can be a very hard thing for South American players, especially in England. This will be a major worry for fans who have to put up with Reyes's adaptation to England.

"Soon after Juan Pablo Angel joined Aston Villa his wife fell ill. He was astonished at the lack of support he received from the club. Agustin Delgado complained that he was never made to feel welcome at Southampton." (BBC)

"Chelsea bought Crespo the footballer - at massive expense - but forgot Crespo the human being. And because they failed to take care of him off the field, he was not in the right frame of mind to produce the goods on the field." (BBC)

Should the Highbury move go through, Viera will find the pace of the English game a challenge and it will certainly force him to move quicker around his area. Then there is also the question of language. Being able to see all of the play in front of him is only an advantage if the keeper can communicate effectively with his defenders.

Nevertheless, it will be exciting if Viera joins us. Apparently, someone's already written a chant for him. I got it from one of the forums I browsed through.

"Viera, woah oh oh
Viera, woah oh oh
He comes from Uruguay
And his name's got only one I"

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