If the signing of Bruno Guimaraes is completed, Arsenal will have another world-class midfielder, and also possess a factor capable of changing the rhythm of play. After winning the Premier League title last season thanks to a solid defensive foundation, coach Mikel Arteta understands that the team needs to increase creativity and breakthrough to maintain its position.
That is why Arsenal is determined to bring Guimaraes to Emirates. The 28-year-old midfielder is at the peak of his career and is the top target of the reigning English champions. The deal is said to be about to be completed with a fee of more than 70 million pounds.
While Arsenal still hopes to implement the "blockbuster" Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid, Guimaraes is considered a more realistic target and suitable for the team's urgent needs.
Last season, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi had to shoulder a huge amount of work in midfield. The appearance of Guimaraes will help Arteta have more rotation options and improve the quality of ball control as well as attack deployment.
Since joining Newcastle from Lyon in January 2022, Guimaraes has developed comprehensively. He is increasingly perfecting his attacking support ability, in addition to the defensive foundation that is a strength.
The 2025-2026 season is clear evidence when the Brazilian international scored 9 goals and had 5 assists in the Premier League. In the Arsenal squad, only Viktor Gyokeres has more goals.
Creativity is also a prominent strength of Guimaraes. He has 4 assists for the Brazilian national team at the 2026 World Cup, and created 45 scoring opportunities in the Premier League last season. In the Arsenal squad, only Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka created more chances.
Guimaraes is particularly prominent in his through-the-line passes and ball handling in tight spaces. This is an element Arsenal still lacks when facing teams playing defensively in numbers.
If he arrives at Emirates, Guimaraes is likely to play alongside Martin Odegaard in two central midfield positions, while Declan Rice will take on the role of anchor behind him. This trio promises to bring a balance between defense, ball control and creativity.
Guimaraes will also join the large group of Brazilian players at Arsenal, where Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are already present. He is expected to continue the successful tradition of Samba stars who have worn the "Gunners" shirt such as Gilberto Silva or Edu.
In fact, The Gunners have been following Guimaraes for many years. When he was technical director, Edu wanted to bring this midfielder to London from the time he played for Athletico Paranaense, before continuing to follow closely when Guimaraes moved to Lyon.
What Arteta appreciates about Guimaraes lies in the combination of technique, football thinking and fighting spirit. Statistics from last season show that the Brazilian midfielder leads in the number of successful tackles and duels on average every 90 minutes compared to Arsenal players.
Those qualities are consistent with the philosophy that Arteta built at Emirates. The Spanish strategist wants the team to play more diverse attacks but still maintain pressing intensity and a determined fighting spirit.
After winning the Premier League title, Arsenal aims to defend the throne and conquer the Champions League. The defeat to PSG in the final last season further made the board determined to invest in players who can make a difference immediately.
3 years ago, Declan Rice was described by Josh Kroenke as a "immediately usable" contract. If the deal is completed, Guimaraes is also expected to create a similar impact, helping Arsenal raise the midfield level and increase competitiveness in all competitions.
