According to Express, Arsenal are monitoring Bruno Guimaraes. With Thomas Partey struggling with injuries, the Olympique Lyon midfielder has emerged as one of the potential targets for Mikel Arteta. The club has been following Guimaraes for quite some time now and with the Ligue 1 facing an economic crisis, it could be an ideal opportunity for the Gunners to prise him away from Lyon.
Bruno Guimaraes’ Success At Lyon
A native of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Guimaraes arrived in Europe in January 2020, joining Olympique Lyon for a fee of €20 million. It was quite a risk by the French club, but one that has paid off pretty well, with the midfielder establishing himself as a vital cog in the second line of press.
Guimaraes featured in 33 league matches last season, and though only 21 of them were starts, the Brazilian has made quite an impact with his contributions in the middle of the park. His aggression and work ethic, in particular, have added another dimension to Lyon’s defensive game. He notably averaged over 5.5 attempted tackles per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 last season.
But at the same time, the former Athletico Paranaense prodigy offers dynamism to the table and is capable of driving the ball forward. It becomes quite a weapon for him in midfield, with the 23-year-old averaging almost one key pass per game last season.
Such numbers have made Guimaraes quite a sought-after prospect in the French market this summer. Lyon themselves may be open to a sale as well, as they hope for a much-needed financial injection to combat the repercussions of the pandemic.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
Can He Solve Arsenal’s Problems?
Arsenal are in dire need of midfield reinforcements this summer after both Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard returned to Real Madrid. Matteo Guendouzi, too, joined Marseille on loan while Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka are facing an uncertain future at the club.
The Gunners have brought in Albert Sambi Lokonga, but in Bruno Guimaraes, Mikel Arteta will find himself a midfield workhorse who can complement the excellent Thomas Partey in the middle of the park.
The Brazilian does indeed offer a lot of work ethic in midfield. His tactically adept nature further opens the door for Arteta to potentially solve his midfield problems, knowing Guimaraes can play the role of a mobile anchor who can provide ease in transition.
He won’t cost a fortune either, considering Lyon’s financial difficulties. As such, Guimaraes could potentially turn out to be an absolute bargain for the Gunners this summer.
