Opinion: Guimaraes still needs time despite his Premier League experience

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·22 September 2026

Opinion: Guimaraes still needs time despite his Premier League experience

Bruno Guimaraes enjoyed the perfect start to life as an Arsenal player until last weekend, when he was seriously exposed by a relentless Brighton side. His difficult outing highlighted the challenges that can come with adapting to a new club, even for a player with an impressive reputation.

In truth, almost no Arsenal player came out of that game with much credit, but the performance showed that signing a top player from another Premier League club does not automatically mean that he will solve all of Arsenal’s problems. Guimaraes remains a terrific player, and over the years, he has proven that he can be one of the top midfielders in the game whenever he plays for his club or country.

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At the World Cup, he stood out in a Brazil team that had several world-class players in every position, and that is one of the reasons Arsenal went all out to add him to their squad. His performances have demonstrated why the club were so determined to bring him in and why there are high expectations surrounding his role.

Guimaraes Still Has Time to Adapt

So far, the midfielder has done well, but a match like the Brighton game is when we would expect him to step up and make a difference for the team. Unfortunately for Arsenal, that never happened, and his display showed that even an established player can struggle when faced with a difficult tactical challenge.

That does not mean he is a bad signing; it simply means that he needs time as well. He will solve some problems for the club in difficult games like that, but the truth is that he has only just arrived and cannot perform magic immediately.

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Arsenal Can Still Expect More

As he becomes more familiar with his teammates and more accustomed to the role the manager wants him to play, we should see the best of him. Building an understanding with those around him will take time, particularly when he is being asked to contribute in demanding matches.

When that understanding develops, Guimaraes should be better equipped to deal with complex puzzles like the one Brighton presented to the Gunners. One difficult performance should not define his Arsenal career, particularly when there is still plenty of time for him to adapt and show why the club wanted him so strongly.

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