Mikel Merino Calls Arsenal's Midfield the Best After £75m Bruno Guimaraes Signing
Mikel Merino, an Arsenal midfielder, has claimed that the Gunners now possess the strongest midfield in world football following the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian joined Arsenal this summer in a £75 million transfer from Newcastle United, reinforcing a squad that clinched the Premier League title last season.
Arsenal's Midfield Reaches New Heights
Merino made a bold statement about the quality in Arsenal’s midfield after Guimaraes' high-profile transfer. The Brazilian's move from St James’ Park to the Emirates Stadium ended a long negotiation and saw him commit to a four-year deal with Arsenal.
Reflecting on the talent available under manager Mikel Arteta, Merino expressed his excitement about the competition within the team. He said, “Honestly, it’s unreal. Probably the best midfield in football. The amount of quality that we have there, with every player that can come on the pitch and make a good shift. It’s great. That’s good for the team. That’s good for the squad. It raises everyone’s level because if you have a bad day, the one that is close to you is going to do a great job.”
He went on to praise Guimaraes, stating, “Amazing signing. He has proved throughout these years how good he is at Newcastle. And he showed it today again. A lot of composure, technical ability, a lot of defensive effort as well. So it’s a very good signing. A top player, but we have many of those in this team. So everyone that comes to help the team is welcome.”
Guimaraes Impresses on Debut
The new recruit wasted no time blending into the squad, appearing for Arsenal in a pre-season friendly against Como. Despite only having three training sessions, Arteta noted Guimaraes' eagerness to get minutes on the field shortly after joining.
Arteta shared, “He was really pushing to play some minutes today. He wanted to get his debut and the feeling of playing in front of our fans immediately. You sense it immediately. I believe there’s a strong connection at play and that is going to make us better.”
Arsenal's Hunger Remains Strong
Even with recent success, Merino stressed that the team’s ambition remains fierce. He highlighted the squad's desire to keep winning, not settling after their Premier League triumph.
Merino added, “I think we have an amazing squad. The hunger is still there. Not because we won it last season, we’re going to be happy with it. We want more and more and more and we want every trophy possible. That’s the best quality of this team. Not only the amount of depth that we have, the quality that we have in every position, but that hunger.”
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- Event: Community Shield
- Date: 16 August 2026
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