Former Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is expected to miss Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City.
Former Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes will NOT make his competitive debut for Premier League champions Arsenal when they host Coventry City on Friday night.
The Brazil international brought an end to his four-and-a-half year stay on Tyneside earlier this month in a deal that is believed to have netted the Magpies around £75m. After appearing in a pre-season friendly draw with Serie A club Como and Arsenal’s Community Shield win against Manchester City last weekend, Guimaraes had been expected to make his Premier League debut for the Gunners when newly promoted Coventry visit the Emirates Stadium on Friday.
Summer signing Bruno Guimaraes has made an impressive start to his Arsenal career (John Walton/PA)placeholder image
Summer signing Bruno Guimaraes has made an impressive start to his Arsenal career (John Walton/PA)
However, reports have suggested the former Magpies captain picked up a thigh injury in the win against City and is facing ‘a few weeks’ on the sidelines. Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta gave little away when he was asked about Guimaraes’ arrival and availability in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
On competition in midfield, he said: “Yes, that's what the new signings bring: a new energy, something to prove in front of them as well, and obviously a competition, and when you talk about players of that quality and leadership, the same with Christos [Tzolis] or with Illan [Meslier], what they've done since day one, I think it lifts the level of everybody.” He was then asked about Guimaraes’ fitness levels ahead of the season opener against the Sky Blues and replied: “Let's see how he is. He's evolving really well, but let's see for tomorrow.”
What did Bruno Guimaraes say about his move from Newcastle to Arsenal?
Bruno Guimaraes joins Arsenal from Newcastle (Owen Humphreys/PA)placeholder image
Bruno Guimaraes joins Arsenal from Newcastle (Owen Humphreys/PA)
He told ESPN Brazil: “I spent almost five years at Newcastle, I believe I helped rebuild the club. I arrived at a more difficult time in the club's history, from my point of view, and with my family I decided to try something new. I am very happy with my opportunity here at Arsenal, and now it's about continuing to work. Very happy to start on the right foot in my first official game, winning the title was very important. It's a very strong squad, great players, I think that's the intention, to fight for everything and we're going for it.”