Arsenal have signed ex-Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes for £75m, joining a midfield group that includes Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Guimaraes is versatile, capable of playing as a deep-lying midfielder or advanced No 8, and his flexibility appeals to Mikel Arteta.

Guimaraes has been a key contributor for Newcastle, scoring 30 goals and providing 25 assists in 153 Premier League appearances. His passing ability is exceptional, with 8.6 line-breaking passes per 90 minutes, placing him ahead of Rice and Zubimendi. He is also efficient in directing passes forward to Odegaard.

Arsenal have already hinted at their desire to make the most of Guimaraes' abilities in both roles, with sporting director Andrea Berta stating he was signed to help the squad 'develop [its] playing style' while also adding competition to Arteta's midfield. The numbers reflect a capacity to unlock opposition defences which could mitigate Odegaard's absence, while providing another source of creativity from central midfield.