Bruno Guimaraes finally got his move to Arsenal in August 2026.
The Gunners had tried to pressure Newcastle United into letting their captain leave for no more than £50m.
However, in the end they were forced to pay £75m to secure Bruno Guimaraes, who turns 29 next month (November 2026).
Bruno Guimaraes had been determined to leave and play in a team that would have a perceived far more chance of winning trophies.
The former Newcastle United captain though has had a nightmare start to his Arsenal career.
Bruno Guimaraes struggling to get into the starting eleven, never mind play in a successful trophy winning team.
In their first five Premier League and Champions League matches, Mikel Arteta not selecting the Brazil international in any of his teams.
Bruno Guimaraes finally getting his chance in the last Premier League match before the internationals. He started for Arsenal away at Brighton.
Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, Bruno Guimaraes putting in a woeful performance and hauled off by Mikel Arteta after Brighton went 3-0 up on 57 minutes.
Fast forward to the next Gunners match and the Bruno Guimaraes Arsenal nightmare has now taken another turn for the worse.
Bruno Guimaraes dropped by Mikel Arteta and defender turned makeshift midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly replacing him.
What a drop in status, from much loved captain and talisman of Newcastle United to now only a squad player at Arsenal and hoping to get some minutes off the bench.
When you are paying £75m for a player set to turn 29, Arsenal and Mikel Arteta clearly assuming they were buying somebody readymade to instantly be a regular first choice starting eleven player.
Zero sympathy from Newcastle United fans for Arsenal and Bruno Guimaraes, with how things have turned out so far.
Chris Waddle had this to say during the international break about the former Newcastle United captain: “I think Bruno Guimaraes will do well to keep his shirt in the team. Arsenal have a very high level. He is a good player. Obviously we know how he plays, he carries the ball, brings good energy, and gets around the park. But at Newcastle he was the main man in a way, and he had a lot of confidence and belief. He’s not guaranteed a starting spot at Arsenal, so that’ll be a little bit difficult for him to accept. I’m sure if he gets in and plays the way he can, he’ll keep his place. But I thought it was a surprising move for Arsenal to bring him in.”
Chris Waddle going on to add: “I think Bruno Guimaraes is a good player but I wouldn’t put him up there as a must-buy. I think Newcastle fans liked him and he did a job for them, you can’t say he didn’t. But he’ll do well to keep a permanent starting shirt at Arsenal. To be the first name picked in midfield alongside Declan Rice and in there with Martin Odegaard, he’s going to have to play exceptionally well.”
The notoriously fickle Arsenal fans have already started to turn on Bruno Guimaraes, very disappointed with what they have seen so far and now doubting the £75m their club spent on a player who turns 29 in November.