It is not difficult to understand why Arsenal pays special attention to Bruno Guimaraes. The Newcastle captain is one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League, possessing the ability to recover the ball, regulate play, penetrate the opponent's defense, and also effectively contribute to scoring and assisting.
The ability to pass the ball along with a strong physical foundation makes the Brazilian international a midfielder that any team desires.
Arsenal are still in negotiations with Newcastle about the signing of Guimaraes. If he joins Emirates, the 28-year-old midfielder will compete for a position with Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The question is what role Arteta will use him in?
Number 6 or number 8?
Guimaraes can play well in both defensive midfielder (number 6) and shuttle midfielder (number 8). In an interview in October 2022, when he was still positioned low by coach Eddie Howe, the Brazilian international admitted that he preferred the number 8 role.
Honestly, I prefer to play in the number 8 position. But in the number 6 position, I can do what the team needs, from deploying the ball, regulating the play to finding wingers and strikers.
I can play in both positions. The most important thing is to be on the field and help Newcastle win. I prefer to play number 8, but if the team needs me to play number 6, it's not a problem" - Guimaraes shared.
After Sandro Tonali took on the role of defensive midfielder, Guimaraes was often pushed up to play higher. However, his versatility and spirit of willingness to sacrifice for the team are the points that make him a player suitable for Mikel Arteta's philosophy.
Tactical card for Arteta
Even when playing in 6th place at Newcastle, Guimaraes is still often allowed to push high to support the attack thanks to the cover of his teammates.
His effectiveness is shown through numbers. In his first season in the Premier League, Guimaraes scored 4 goals and had 5 assists despite mainly playing defensive midfielder. The following season, he increased his record to 7 goals and 8 assists. To date, the Brazilian midfielder has contributed 30 goals and 25 assists after 153 appearances in the Premier League.
The Gunners" possess many defenders who are capable of pressing into the center, creating conditions for Guimaraes to push high from the second line. Another option is to use him in the two-midfielder system, where he can maximize his mobility.
Declan Rice is considered Guimaraes' ideal partner. The English midfielder played higher for most of last season, but also showed effectiveness when he came down to partner with Myles Lewis-Skelly in the late season. Rice possesses abundant energy, strong tackling ability and good tactical thinking, helping him to combine well with Guimaraes.
If using the Rice - Guimaraes duo in the center, Arteta will have the opportunity to push Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze up to play as a pure number 10. In case Rice is absent, Arsenal can use Merino and Lewis-Skelly above Guimaraes.
In the opposite direction, if prioritizing strength and tackling ability, Arteta can completely use the trio Guimaraes, Rice and Zubimendi. This may not be the most creative midfield, but it will bring overwhelming fitness and ability to control the midfield.
Creativity no less than Odegaard
Another highlight of Guimaraes is his ability to create breakthroughs with passes.
Last season statistics showed that the Brazilian midfielder made an average of 8.6 passes breaking through the opponent's defense every 90 minutes, almost equivalent to Martin Odegaard and superior to Rice or Zubimendi. Guimaraes also has a very high forward pass rate, even reaching better accuracy than the captain of Arsenal.
These numbers show that Guimaraes not only brings strength, tackling ability and mobility, but can also become a new source of creativity for Arsenal.
If the deal is successful, Arteta will own another quality tactical card, capable of taking on many different roles in midfield and helping Arsenal compete for titles in the new season.
