Legendary England and Newcastle United forward Alan Shearer has weighed in on the agreed transfer of 28-year-old Brazilian central midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75 million (€87.5 million).
Shearer believes that Guimaraes' arrival will elevate the Premier League champions’ midfield to one of the strongest in world football.
Evaluation of Arsenal's midfield
According to Shearer, the combination of Guimaraes with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard creates tremendous potential for Mikel Arteta’s side:
Playing qualities: Guimaraes excels under pressure, boasts pinpoint passing ability, and demonstrates strong leadership on the pitch.
Midfield competition: In addition, Arteta has Martin Subimendi, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, and young talent Myles Lewis-Skelly at his disposal.
Alan Shearer admitted to feeling mixed emotions about the departure of Guimaraes, who had been a key figure for Newcastle.
From a fan's perspective: Shearer expressed disappointment over losing a leader who spent 4.5 years at Newcastle, winning the EFL Cup in 2025 and playing a vital role in returning the club to the Champions League.
Professional insight: The former striker understands the player's decision; Newcastle is undergoing a transitional phase following the exits of Eddie Howe, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Alexander Isak. Moving to the reigning champions at the age of 28-29 is a logical step in pursuit of trophies.
Arsenal will kick off their title defence on August 21 with a home match against Coventry City.
