Bruno Guimaraes has spoken for the first time since completing his move to Arsenal, revealing the warm welcome he received from several of his new teammates as he swapped Newcastle United for north London.
The Brazilian midfielder was officially presented by the Gunners on Saturday after putting pen to paper on a four-year deal, with the club holding the option to extend the contract by a further year. The transfer represents one of Arsenal's most significant additions of the summer window, with manager Mikel Arteta bringing in the 28-year-old to bolster his midfield options alongside Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, who both endured spells of inconsistent form and fitness issues towards the end of last season.
Guimaraes now joins a growing Brazilian contingent at the Emirates Stadium, linking up with Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. Speaking to Arsenal's media team, the newly signed midfielder confirmed he had already been exchanging messages with his compatriots before the deal was finalised.
"Big Gabi was very excited. Every time he sent me the message, 'we'll wait for you, when will you come?'" Guimaraes said, referring to defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
The midfielder admitted he was eager to settle in not just with the Brazilian players but with the wider squad as he begins this new chapter of his career. "I'm so excited to join them, not only the Brazilians, we have an amazing squad here. I'm so excited to meet the other players, to start training. I just want to give my best," he added.
One particularly notable exchange came from Rice, given the history between the two midfielders. Guimaraes built a reputation during his time at Newcastle for his combative, tenacious style, and the pair were often involved in tightly contested midfield battles whenever the two clubs met in the Premier League. That rivalry, however, has now given way to camaraderie following the move.
"Rice sent me a message: 'Come here and please no more fights, now we're friends,'" Guimaraes revealed, clearly amused by the message from his new midfield partner.
The Brazilian went on to praise the quality of the Arsenal midfield he is now joining, suggesting the club possesses one of the strongest units in the continent. "I was happy he messaged me, but the midfield we have here, in my point of view, is one of the best in Europe," he said.
He continued by expressing his enthusiasm to get to know his new colleagues both on and off the pitch, insisting that despite the individual talent within the squad, it is the collective strength of the group that stands out to him. "Everyone is an amazing player, I'm so excited to start chatting and play, and know the players very, very well, but we have an amazing midfield," Guimaraes said.
With his transfer now confirmed, attention will turn to how quickly Guimaraes can integrate into Arteta's setup and begin training with his new teammates. The Brazilian's arrival adds further depth and competition to a midfield already featuring Rice and Zubimendi, giving Arteta a range of options as Arsenal look to build on last season's campaign.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.