Bruno Guimaraes is the reason why Arsenal beat Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium.
The visitors were by far the better team in the opening hour and took the lead through James Justin. They probably deserved to go in front as well, but their joy didn’t last long.
Riccardo Calafiori scored the equaliser in the 62nd minute. Guimaraes was then brought onto the pitch, and the Brazilian scored a brilliant winner in the 70th minute.
Mikel Arteta was impressed with Guimaraes’ cameo, but the Arsenal manager also sent a very strong message to his new midfielder.
Arsenal vs Leeds TalkingPoints
Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta reminds Bruno Guimaraes of the Arsenal level
Bruno Guimaraes was the hero for Arsenal against Leeds United, but things were very different in his last appearance against Brighton.
The Gunners were humiliated by the Seagulls just before the international break, and not one Arsenal player deserved any praise for their performance that evening.
Guimaraes was really poor against Brighton, and Arteta made sure to remind him of that in his press conference after the win over Leeds.
The Arsenal manager made it clear that Guimaraes’ display on Saturday was Arsenal’s level, unlike what he produced against Fabian Hurzeler’s side a few weeks ago. Then, Arteta made it clear that the midfielder can fare even better.
He said, as relayed on HaytersTV: “He wasn’t at the level against Brighton. This is the level for Arsenal. Every week, every game, every minute, every action, you have to be at that level.
“And at Brighton, he wasn’t, and today, he was much better, and he can still be much better in the games that he’s done, and that’s what we have to demand. This is what I demand from myself.
“I’m going to demand the same from the players. Because if we do that, you will raise the standards, and we will be a better team.”
Bruno Guimaraes has to fight for his place at Arsenal
Guimaraes was one of the first names on the team sheet every week at Newcastle United, but there is no such guarantee here at Arsenal.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has been in great form for the Gunners this season, and even though he is nowhere near the goal threat that the Brazilian is, he is ahead of him in the pecking order.
Guimaraes’ performance against Brighton made it clear that Lewis-Skelly had to start against Leeds, but the Brazilian has put his name forward again with a brilliant performance.
Arteta is right. This has to be the level in every game and in every action to be a regular starter at Arsenal. That is the level, and Guimaraes has already learnt it the hard way.
Hopefully, he can keep performing like this going forward.