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After enduring what he called the "most difficult moments" in Newcastle United's recent history, Bruno Guimarães chose to join Arsenal in pursuit of major honours.
Guimarães was among the first high-profile acquisitions for Newcastle following the club's landmark takeover by Saudi Arabia's enormously wealthy Public Investment Fund. When the Brazilian completed his transfer from Lyon in January 2022, the Magpies were sitting inside the Premier League relegation zone.
Largely thanks to the inspirational presence of Guimarães, Newcastle finished that season in 11th place, then qualified for the Champions League on two occasions and claimed the Carabao Cup during his four and a half years on Tyneside. It was an emotionally exhausting period for a player as openly passionate as the 28-year-old, who was moved to tears when his $101 million (£75 million at the time of agreement) transfer to Arsenal was confirmed earlier this season.
His reasoning was straightforward if bittersweet: Arsenal offered a more stable platform at a higher level.
"I spent nearly five years at Newcastle; I believe I helped rebuild the club," Guimarães told ESPN Brasil. "I arrived during what I consider one of the most challenging periods in the club's history, and together with my family, I decided to pursue something new."
Guimarães endured one of his most frustrating seasons in the northeast last term as Newcastle slipped to 12th place. It was no coincidence that the Brazilian missed a significant portion of the campaign, underscoring just how vital he was to Eddie Howe's system: with Guimarães on the field, Newcastle averaged 1.8 Premier League points per game, a figure that fell to 0.8 without him.
Arsenal have already been given a taste of his ability, with Guimarães putting in a standout official debut against Manchester City in Sunday's Community Shield to begin the season with silverware. "I'm very happy with my opportunity here at Arsenal, and now it's time to keep working," he said. "I'm very happy to have started on the right foot in my first official match—winning the title was extremely important.
"It's a very strong squad with outstanding players; I think that's the plan—to compete for everything and give it everything we've got." That such ambitious goals can be considered a realistic target at Arsenal is a testament to Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta's Fingerprints All Over Guimaraes Deal
During the nail-biting conclusion to last season's Premier League, Arteta brushed aside suggestions that Arsenal were left deflated by what appeared to be a fourth consecutive runners-up finish. For the Basque manager, those so-called 'failures' needed to be viewed within the broader context of his tenure, which began with back-to-back eighth-place finishes.
During that difficult stretch, Arteta admitted to countless sleepless nights questioning whether he was truly capable of delivering Arsenal's first league title in over two decades. "I've asked that question to myself: Am I good enough to lead these players to win a major trophy?" he revealed this summer. "Until you do it, you cannot validate yourself."
Arteta silenced his own self-doubt with a cathartic victory in May that sent a message well beyond his personal struggles. The Gunners not only claimed the Premier League title but also reached the Champions League final, cementing themselves as genuine contenders at the elite level.
It was enough to persuade Guimarães and even led his compatriot Vinícius Júnior to consider the possibility of moving to north London. Even a few years ago, the idea of Real Madrid losing one of their key stars to Arsenal would have been too far-fetched to factor into any contract discussions. Now it is at least a plausible scenario.
Guimaraes Becoming Fast Favorite
The Arsenal squad appears to have warmed to Guimarães just as quickly as the supporters have. "I think it's been so natural, I think the connection is already there," said Martin Ødegaard of the player who was repeatedly cheered by his new fanbase during the Community Shield.
"I think you can see that he's a top, top player from the very first second he's in training, you feel that presence and the quality. So, I think it's been really easy to connect with him. Brilliant player."
"I think since the first day he walked through the door, it has felt like the most natural thing," Ødegaard added. "Even though we had some fierce battles against him in the past, he has just slotted in as a completely natural part of the team and you can see his quality.
"He can win the ball, he's a fighter, but he also has so much quality in possession. And he has that, what can I say ... that composure on the ball. He always takes exactly the right amount of time and picks the right pass, so it's brilliant."