Arsenal's interest in signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle is understandable, given his exceptional all-round skills as a midfielder. With a £75m fee agreed, the question now is where and how he would fit into the team. Guimaraes has expressed a preference for playing as a No 8, but has also demonstrated his ability to play as a deep-lying midfielder. His versatility would undoubtedly appeal to Mikel Arteta, who values players who can adapt to different positions.
An analysis of Guimaraes' minutes played by position in the Premier League highlights his flexibility, having played most of his minutes at the base of midfield, as well as on the right and left sides as a No 8. This flexibility could be beneficial for Arsenal, allowing them to use him in various roles. Even when playing as Newcastle's No 6, Guimaraes was often given the freedom to attack, and his statistics demonstrate his attacking threat, with 30 goals and 25 assists in 153 Premier League appearances. One possible way to maximize Guimaraes' attacking qualities would be to use him in a box-to-box role as part of a double pivot, potentially alongside Declan Rice.
This would allow Arteta to deploy a pure No 10, such as Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze. Alternatively, Arteta could prioritize physicality over flair by using a midfield trio of Guimaraes, Rice, and Martin Zubimendi, which would enable Arsenal to dominate physical battles in central midfield. Guimaraes' passing ability is also noteworthy, with statistics showing he made a similar number of line-breaking passes per 90 minutes as Odegaard last season.
The arrival of Guimaraes would likely raise questions about some of Arsenal's other midfield options, but his quality and versatility make him an attractive signing. With Arsenal's overreliance on Rice and Zubimendi last season, Guimaraes' arrival could help to reduce their workload and provide a more balanced midfield.