Bruno Guimaraes is ‘plug-and-play’ midfielder transfer in Declan Rice mould who can help Arsenal win it all

BRUNO GUIMARAES will help get Arsenal dancing to a different beat. The Gunners relied on defensive steel to win the Prem last season but Mikel Arteta is aware of the need to evolve. Bruno Guimaraes may be waving goodbye to Newcastle in the coming days Credit: Getty Guimaraes, 28, stars for the Brazil national team Credit: Getty And what better way than by adding some Samba flair to the mix? Midfield ace Guimaraes — set to join from Newcastle — certainly offers that. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! And, who knows, there could be even more if Arsenal pull off a sensational swoop for his Brazil team-mate Vinicius Jr. A mega-money deal for the Real Madrid winger looks very hard to do, yet Emirates chiefs at least hope to get Guimaraes through the door. A deal for the Newcastle captain, 28, is at an advanced stage and he should arrive for a fee north of £70million. That is a serious outlay but it makes sense after boss Arteta’s midfield struggles last season. Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi were run into the ground and there is a clear need for reinforcements in that area. Guimaraes brings something different to the party and will not be afraid to put his mark on this Arsenal team after becoming a leader at Newcastle. The midfielder has developed the attacking part of his game since moving to Toon from Lyon in January 2022. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Last season was his most productive and the Brazilian finished it with nine league goals and five assists. Viktor Gyokeres was the only Arsenal player who bettered that tally — with 14 Prem goals and a solitary assist. The Gunners lacked an attacking threat from midfield on their way to winning the title but they struggled for creativity, too. Guimaraes showed with his four assists for Brazil at the World Cup this summer how he can help in this area. That came off the back of a season where he created 45 Prem chances, with Rice and Bukayo Saka the only two Gunners to better that. But no one in Arteta’s ranks could compete with Guimareas when it came to through balls and passes completed in the final third. The latter has been a real problem for Arsenal, who especially struggle when teams sit deep. Guimaraes is excellent at receiving the ball in tight spaces and can help pick the lock of stubborn defences. His arrival can ease the creative burden on captain Martin Odegaard, who he might play alongside as a No 8. Guimaraes has shown an impressive eye for goal down the years Credit: Getty Mikel Arteta is desperate to add quality this summer Credit: Getty Rice operating behind the pair would give the champions a solid base and the England star could easily dovetail with Guimaraes — adding attacking fluidity. The Toon hero is set to join a handy Brazilian contingent at the Emirates — which includes Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli. He would also be the latest in a long line of Samba stars to represent Arsenal, following in the footsteps of World Cup winner Gilberto Silva. The midfielder was a bedrock of that Invincibles side in 2003-04, like fellow countryman Edu — who sparked Arsenal’s interest in Guimaraes. Edu looked at bringing the midfielder to the Emirates six years ago when working as the club’s technical director. Guimaraes was playing at Athletico Paranaense then and Arsenal continued to track him when he joined Lyon. Finally, the playmaker looks on his way to North London — and his hunger to win trophies should prove infectious. If Arteta was wary about anyone resting on their laurels after title glory, throwing in someone with Guimaraes’ fighting spirit will put paid to that. And that is the attractive thing about the midfielder — who is able to combine Brazilian flair with English grit. Guimaraes has never been afraid to put a foot in Credit: Rex The Brazilian became a hero on Tyneside over the last four-and-a-half years Credit: Getty Per 90 minutes in the top flight last season, he won more duels and tackles than any Arsenal player. Arteta will love that because — as much as there is a need to liven up the Gunners’ attack — the Spaniard is never going to fully abandon his core principles. Hard work is a huge part of that, and Guimaraes offers it in spades at a time when Arsenal want to kick on with their project. Arteta is hungry for more success and conscious of the fact the club have never retained the Prem. The Champions League remains an elusive prize, too, and the heartbreak of last season’s final shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain will serve as fuel. Signing the experienced Guimaraes is an indication of how Arsenal want to win now, not simply build for the future. The last time they spent this much on a midfielder was three years ago, when they paid West Ham £105m for Rice. Arsenal chief Josh Kroenke called Rice a “plug-and-play” signing who could hit the ground running straight away. If a deal gets over the line, Guimaraes will be expected to do the same. Comment now