David Raya has hailed new Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes as a 'warrior' whose leadership has been vital for the Premier League leaders. The praise comes as former striker Jeremie Aliadiere warned manager Mikel Arteta that the team's style may not suit summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
Raya, who saved a penalty in the recent 2-0 win at Sunderland, was full of admiration for the 28-year-old Brazilian's immediate impact. "It is incredible," Raya said. "Obviously, Bruno has been very unlucky with his start. He had two little injuries that kept him out of the team." The goalkeeper went on to describe Guimaraes as technically gifted, a strong reader of the game, and a player who will put his life on the line in both defence and attack. His maturity and competitiveness have quickly impressed his new teammates.
Guimaraes proved his worth at the Stadium of Light, scoring a stunning 58th-minute strike and later playing Bukayo Saka through to win a late penalty. That victory kept Arsenal's perfect start to the season intact, with the Gunners sitting top of the Premier League with 12 points from four games. Saka, who converted that penalty, is the club's top scorer this season with three goals in four appearances.
Jeremie Aliadiere believes Mikel Arteta is making a mistake by not utilising Viktor Gyokeres in a way that plays to his strengths. The former Arsenal forward argues that the team's possession-based approach, which involves building play and going wide to wingers, does not suit a striker who thrives on quick, direct service to run the channels.
Aliadiere pointed out that Gyokeres, who was the top scorer in his league last year, often struggled for consistent service last season. He suggested Arteta's tendency to revert to Kai Havertz for big games indicates a stylistic preference that leaves Gyokeres on the periphery. "I think he’s just got to be patient, keep the faith, have a strong mindset and mentality and really believe in his quality and that he will turn things around," Aliadiere said of the Swedish striker.
The warning arrives as Arsenal prepare for a tough away test at Brighton this Saturday. The Seagulls are fifth in the table, and the Gunners will travel without defenders Ben White and William Saliba, who are currently sidelined. Arteta's men won the last meeting 1-0 in early September and will be looking to extend their five-game winning run across all competitions. Their most recent result was a 4-2 victory at Ipswich, where Max Dowman scored twice. The team's next fixture is against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on 26 September. Fans can check the full fixtures list for the upcoming schedule.
With the team in such strong form, the debate over the best tactical setup continues. While Guimaraes has seamlessly integrated into the midfield, the question of how to best deploy Gyokeres remains a topic for the manager. Arsenal's next challenge is at the Amex Stadium on 19 September.
More detail at Daily Mirror Football
