Opinion: Who partners Rice in midfield Guimaraes and Zubimendi?

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·5 August 2026

Opinion: Who partners Rice in midfield Guimaraes and Zubimendi?

Arsenal have secured an agreement to add Bruno Guimaraes to their squad, with the Brazilian arriving as Christian Norgaard closes in on a move to Everton this summer.

The Denmark international struggled for regular playing time last season, and that is unlikely to be the role Guimaraes fulfils after Arsenal invested heavily to complete the transfer.

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Guimaraes is regarded as one of the top players in England, which was not the profile of Norgaard when he joined the Gunners from Brentford just one season ago.

Guimaraes set to strengthen Arsenal

The Brazilian arrives following an outstanding spell at Newcastle United and an impressive World Cup campaign. Expectations are that he will move straight into the Arsenal starting line-up and immediately improve the squad with his quality.

Arsenal already possess a strong midfield, and Guimaraes joining the club creates fresh competition for places. That naturally raises questions over who should partner Declan Rice in midfield, Guimaraes or Martin Zubimendi.

The Spaniard was an ever-present for Arsenal last season but was unable to secure regular playing time for Spain at the World Cup, while Guimaraes impressed with several assists during the tournament.

Selection dilemma for Arsenal

Guimaraes has built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s finest midfielders, and his arrival is expected to increase competition within Arsenal’s squad as they prepare for the new campaign.

At the same time, Zubimendi’s performances for Arsenal last season make the decision far from straightforward, particularly after establishing himself as a reliable presence in midfield throughout the league campaign.

It appears highly likely that Guimaraes will be selected ahead of the Spaniard, but there remains a genuine debate over whether it would be fair to leave Zubimendi on the bench after the level of consistency he produced in the league last season. Arsenal now have greater depth in midfield, and the competition for places could help maintain high standards across the squad throughout the campaign.

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