Jamie Carragher has predicted that Arsenal's imminent £75 million signing of Bruno Guimaraes will spell the end for Martin Zubimendi at the Emirates Stadium. The Premier League champions are close to finalizing a deal with Newcastle United for the Brazilian midfielder, ending a lengthy transfer saga.
Arsenal's Midfield Overhaul
Mikel Arteta has sanctioned the big-money move for Guimaraes as he looks to strengthen a squad that clinched the Premier League title last season. The 28-year-old will join an already stacked midfield featuring Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Zubimendi.
Zubimendi made a promising start to his Arsenal career following his £60 million move from Real Sociedad last summer, but he lost his place in the starting lineup towards the end of the season. Carragher believes Guimaraes' arrival will permanently relegate the Spanish international.
Carragher's Doubts and Praise
Speaking on the Football Ramble podcast, Carragher expressed mixed feelings about the transfer. He admitted he was more of a fan of Guimaraes' former Newcastle teammate Sandro Tonali, who joined Tottenham in a deal worth £85 million.
“I was almost more of a Tonali man than Bruno, I thought he had more pace about him and could get around the pitch,” Carragher said. “I would look at Bruno and not be quite sure, I thought he was a good player but I thought, can he run? He would get fouled a lot and slowed down the game a lot.”
However, Carragher acknowledged Guimaraes' quality: “He does get important goals though and he’s a good player. It will be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta uses that midfield now.”
Zubimendi's Future in Question
Carragher was blunt about Zubimendi's prospects. “Do you think it’s the end for Zubimendi there? In terms of being what he was supposed to be when he was brought in. He was supposed to come in and be this controller. I don’t see him ever getting that place back now,” he added.
Arteta faces a selection headache with Guimaraes, Rice, Odegaard, and Merino all vying for starting spots. Carragher also questioned Rice's best role, saying, “Will Bruno play more of a holding role, does Declan Rice still play that box-to-box role? I’m still not 100% convinced what role Rice is better in.”
Makelele Backs the Move
While Carragher has reservations, Chelsea legend Claude Makelele believes Guimaraes will fit in “perfectly” at Arsenal. “Bruno Guimaraes is an ambitious player who sees his career one way: Champions League football, always, and teams built to win titles in Europe,” Makelele told ComeOn.
“Arsenal tick every box. They won the Premier League, they’ve gone deep in the Champions League, and they’re built to go again. It’s always right for a good player to join a great team, and Arsenal have done great business,” he added.
What's Next for Arsenal
Arsenal will begin their Premier League title defence on August 21 against newly-promoted Coventry City. The Guimaraes deal is expected to be completed before then, with Arteta looking to build on last season's success and mount a serious Champions League challenge.
