At a Glance:
Arsenal interested in strengthening midfield
Newcastle midfielde rhas piqued the club’s interest
Could play all across the Arsenal midfield.
With a lot of the attention on improving the Arsenal squad directed, as usual, towards the Arsenal attack, it seems as if other areas of improvement are being spoken of slightly less.
This includes the Arsenal midfield, which is a fairly steady area of the squad, but still has some concerns. While Declan Rice has shown his world-class level all throughout the season, Martin Odegaard’s injury problems and Martin Zubimendi’s consistency issues have meant that the production levels of the midfield trio have varied.
A new addition to the centre of the field is clearly on Arsenal’s mind, as players such as Sandro Tonali have been linked with a move to North London. But, surprisingly, Tonali is not the only Newcastle midfielder that Arsenal have an interest in.
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Bruno Guimaraes’ ‘desire for a new challenge’ could prompt him to push for an Arsenal move
Bruno Guimaraes all-around playstyle and general intensity have made him a fan hero at St James’ Park, and also seen him become one of Newcastle’s standout players.
Now 28, the Brazilian central midfielder has been based in the North of England for four years, having made the transfer from Lyon at the start of the 2022/23 season.
If Guimaraes, also known as Bruno G. thanks to the name displayed on his back every game, were to depart Newcastle in the summer, it would .
This season has seen the Newcastle Number 39 pop up with nine goals and four assists in only 25 Premier League appearances, as well as averaging 1.6 key passes a game and a general pass completion rate of 86.8%.
A report from highlights what Spanish media have said about the situation:
“Newcastle, backed by strong financial resources, has no need to sell, which strengthens its negotiating position. However, the player’s desire for a new challenge could influence how the deal unfolds.”
Arsenal views Guimaraes as a ‘strategic investment that could be a turning point for the project’ and that Guimaraes is reportedly persuaded by a move to the Gunners, with a fee quoted at around £86 million.
How would Bruno Guimaraes fit into the Arsenal team?
Bruno Guimaraes’ ability as both a passer and an enforcer means that any of the midfield roles Arsenal employ could be where he slots in.
Martin Odegaard’s progressive passing and injury concerns mean that he could slot into the squad as a right-sided 8 in order to build up some chemistry with Bukayo Saka or Jurrien Timber/Ben White.
Declan Rice is borderline undroppable, bar unavailability, but it is not like Guimaraes could not act in an ‘engine’ role all around the field if needed.
Rotating with Zubimendi might be the most realistic option, given the Spaniard’s struggles, but it is not a role that he is all too familiar with at Newcastle right now, given that Sandro Tonali tends to start deeper in midfield compared to the Brazilian.