Arsenal’s pursuit of Bruno Guimarães makes perfect sense when you consider what the Newcastle captain brings to the table. At 28, Guimarães is arguably one of the most well‑rounded midfielders in the Premier League. He combines physical dominance with an eye for goal, the ability to create chances and a passing range that matches his athletic profile.
The Gunners are still negotiating with Newcastle for the Brazilian, who would join a midfield roster that already features Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino and the young Myles Lewis‑Skelly. The question on everyone’s mind is how Arteta would integrate him. Guimarães is comfortable both as a deep‑lying playmaker (the traditional No 6) and as a more advanced box‑to‑box midfielder (the No 8).
In an October 2022 interview with Sky Sports, he admitted that, when given a choice, he prefers the No 8 role, even though he spent much of his time under Eddie Howe at Newcastle operating as a No 6. > "Honestly, if you ask me, I’d rather be a No 8, but my role as a No 6 is exactly what the team needs.
I’m there to collect the ball, make passes and find the wingers and strikers," Guimarães said. He added that he can perform in either position and that his priority is simply to help his side win points.
When Sandro Tonali arrived and took over the No 6 duties, Guimarães slipped back into his favored No 8 slot, demonstrating his willingness to adapt for the benefit of the team. That flexibility is a trait that Mikel Arteta values highly; he likes players who can shift between roles without compromising the collective shape.
A look at Guimarães’ Premier League minutes confirms his versatility. The majority of his playing time has been at the base of the midfield, but he has also featured on both the right‑ and left‑handed side of a No 8, showing he can operate across the central corridor with ease. Even when he started as Newcastle’s No 6, he was given license to join the attack. He explained that with Dan Burn playing at left‑back, he could drift into more advanced positions to support the forwards.
Statistically, Guimarães has been a consistent contributor. In his first full season as a No 6 he recorded four league goals and five assists.
The following campaign saw those numbers rise to seven goals and eight assists, all while occupying the same deep‑lying slot. Across 153 Premier League appearances for Newcastle, he has amassed 30 goals and 25 assists – a clear indication of his offensive threat from midfield. Arsenal already have full‑backs capable of tucking inside, which would give Guimarães space to surge forward from a deep position. Alternatively, Arteta could employ him in a double‑pivot system, pairing him with a player like Rice.
Rice spent much of last season as Arsenal’s left‑sided No 8 before moving deeper into a double pivot alongside Lewis‑Skelly. Both Rice and Guimarães share the box‑to‑box work‑rate, but Guimarães adds a slightly more creative edge. A double pivot of Guimarães and Rice would free up a pure No 10 – either Ødegaard or Eze – to operate in the attacking midfield zone. Should Rice need rest, Arteta could simply shift Guimarães to the No 6 role and promote the other midfielder to a No 8 slot, preserving balance.
If Arteta wanted to emphasize physicality over flair, he could push Guimarães forward into a right‑sided No 8, a position he occupied frequently at Newcastle, while retaining Zubimendi as the deeper anchor. This trio of Guimarães, Zubimendi and Rice might not look the most attacking on paper, but it would give Arsenal a formidable presence in the centre of the park, capable of winning duels and dictating tempo.
From a passing perspective, Guimarães mirrors Ødegaard’s profile. He averaged 8.6 line‑breaking passes per 90 minutes last season – a figure that outstripped both Rice and Zubimendi and matched the Arsenal captain’s output. Moreover, his forward‑pass accuracy was slightly higher than Ødegaard’s, suggesting he can unlock defences when the primary playmaker is unavailable. The arrival of Guimarães will inevitably spark debate about existing midfield options, but the logic behind the pursuit is clear.
Last season Arsenal’s midfield minutes were heavily shouldered by Rice and Zubimendi, each logging over 4,000 minutes. Injuries to Ødegaard, Merino, Havertz and others forced Arteta to rely heavily on this core, exposing a lack of depth. Christian Nørgaard’s pending move to Everton opens a squad slot, while returning loanees Ethan Nwaneri and Fabio Vieira will also need assessment. Lewis‑Skelly, who started ahead of Zubimendi last term, may find his place altered as the club prepares for a congested schedule across multiple competitions.
Given Guimarães’ £80 million valuation, Newcastle will not be willing to sell him as a peripheral figure. Arsenal must be ready to give him a prominent role, whether that is as a deep‑lying orchestrator, a dynamic No 8, or a component of a double pivot that balances defensive solidity with creative spark. In summary, Guimarães offers Arsenal a rare blend of physicality, technical skill and tactical intelligence. His ability to adapt between No 6 and No 8, coupled with a proven record of goals and assists, makes him a valuable addition that could elevate Arsenal’s midfield stability and attacking potency for the challenges ahead.