Mikel Arteta has been advised to prioritise signing a new striker after Arsenal agreed a £75 million deal with Newcastle United for Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian midfielder is set to become the Gunners' third summer signing, but former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given insists that further investment is needed up front if the club is to sustain its recent success.
Guimaraes arrival bolsters midfield but raises questions up front
Guimaraes, 28, has been a standout performer in the Premier League since his £40 million move from Lyon in January 2022. During his time at Newcastle, he helped the club win the Carabao Cup and secure Champions League qualification. Now he joins an Arsenal side that clinched the Premier League title last season and reached the Champions League final, where they suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat.
While Guimaraes' arrival is widely seen as a major coup, Given believes Arsenal still lack a clinical edge in attack. Viktor Gyokeres, who joined from Sporting for £64 million last summer, scored 21 goals in all competitions but faced criticism for his overall contribution. Given told BoyleSports: "A signing like Bruno Guimaraes can give Arsenal the strength in depth they need to win multiple trophies. But I think they still need to strengthen their options up front with another striker as well."
Gyokeres under scrutiny as Arsenal eye new options
Gyokeres' first season at the Emirates was mixed. Despite his goal tally, he was often criticised for missing clear chances, a weakness Given believes could prove costly in tight title races. "Viktor Gyokeres did okay last season but I still think when you want to win multiple trophies, you need somebody at the very top of the pitch who only needs one chance to score, not three or four chances a game," he added.
Arsenal have been linked with several strikers this summer, including Julian Alvarez and England international Ollie Watkins. Arteta is known to be a big admirer of Alvarez, while Watkins has also been on the club's radar. Given's comments add weight to the argument that Arsenal must act decisively before the transfer window closes.
Guimaraes could ease burden on Declan Rice
Beyond the attacking concerns, Given highlighted the positive impact Guimaraes could have on Declan Rice. The England midfielder has made 158 appearances for Arsenal over the past three seasons and struggled with fitness during the recent World Cup. Given said: "Bruno can play in his position as well and that could give Mikel Arteta more license to rest Declan. I think that's becoming a real worry that Declan Rice is playing too much football. He seems to play every minute and we all know the kind of player that he is. He is all in, all the time. You can only do that for so long. It'll catch up on him eventually."
Given also praised Guimaraes' versatility, noting that the Brazilian can operate in multiple midfield roles. "Maybe Arteta is looking at Bruno's flexibility and thinking he can play higher up the pitch or sit in among the holding midfielders too. It's a signing that would give them plenty of options," he added.
Newcastle fears as key players depart
While Arsenal look to build on their title triumph, Newcastle fans are bracing for a challenging season. The club has already lost Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and manager Eddie Howe, with Guimaraes now set to follow them out of St James' Park. Given, who spent over a decade at Newcastle as a player, acknowledged the growing concerns among the fanbase. "I think it's natural for all fans to fear the worst. It's ingrained in us, built on over the years," he said.
"Newcastle have lost some of their best players and have replaced them with younger players, who certainly have bright futures ahead of them, but it can take time for them to settle and get up to speed, especially in the Premier League. Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon have already departed and it seems Bruno Guimaraes is about to join them which means almost the whole midfield has been wiped out. That's a lot of quality and experience."
Given admitted he shares the supporters' unease: "If I told you I was sitting here right now saying I'm not worried at all and totally certain we'll be fine, I probably wouldn't be telling the truth. There will be concerns amongst the fanbase about the coming season."
What's next for Arsenal and Newcastle?
Arsenal begin their Premier League title defence against newly-promoted Coventry City, while Newcastle host Liverpool on the opening weekend. The contrasting fortunes of the two clubs highlight the shifting dynamics in English football, with Arsenal aiming to establish domestic dominance and Newcastle facing a period of transition.
For Arteta, the priority remains clear: add a proven goalscorer to complement Guimaraes and ensure the squad has the depth to challenge on all fronts. With the transfer window still open, Arsenal fans will be hoping for further reinforcements before the deadline.
