Alan Shearer says Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has built arguably the best midfield in the world after signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United.
Arsenal are set to announce the arrival of Brazilian midfielder Guimaraes after making a £75m breakthrough in talks with Newcastle.
Arteta identified Guimaraes as his top midfield target earlier in the summer as he looks to retain the Premier League title next season.
Guimaraes has enjoyed five productive years at St James’ Park, helping Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and win the Carabao Cup.
Get the latest transfer news every morning
Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won’t be around next season.
But the 28-year-old was keen to leave after Newcastle’s disappointing 2025-26 campaign and upon learning of interest from Premier League champions Arsenal.
Guimaraes will bolster an Arsenal midfield which already includes Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Shearer insists there is ‘no doubt’ Guimaraes will ‘improve’ Arsenal and says Arteta may have now have the best midfield in world football at his disposal.
‘Arsenal are signing a top-quality player in Bruno Guimaraes,’ the Newcastle legend and ex-England striker told Betfair. ‘There’s no doubt about that.
‘They’re signing a player who’s so comfortable on the ball under pressure, who can make that killer pass. He’s got a great attitude, too, we’ve seen that at Newcastle.
‘So, there’s no doubt he’ll improve them. I think with the likes of Rice, Odegaard and Bruno, there won’t be many better midfields out there.’
Shearer admits he is ‘really disappointed’ Guimaraes has decided to leave Newcastle but ‘understands’ his desire to join Arsenal.
‘I think from my point of view there’s two ways of looking at it,’ Shearer added. ‘First I’ll give you my opinion as a fan of Newcastle who’s watched him for four or five years.
‘I’m disappointed because I’ve seen him produce magical moments. I’ve seen how brilliant he is, I’ve seen how he can make a difference to the team.
‘I’ve seen him kiss the badge. I’ve seen him react to the crowd, I’ve seen him be made captain, I’ve heard him say how much he loves it and he loves the football club. So, from that point of view, yeah, I’m really disappointed.
‘From a professional point of view and from someone who works in football and knows how the game is, I totally get it, I understand it.
‘He’s 29 in a couple of months and he’s gone to the champions. He’s seen his manager leave. He’s seen Isak leave. He’s seen Gordon leave. He’s seen Tonali leave.
‘It’s a very different football club to the one that was 12 months ago, 18 months ago.
‘Overall, my point is always the same is that if someone wants to leave then let them go and he hasn’t done it in the wrong way, I guess he’s done it all the right way.
‘So, from his point of view I sort of get it and understand it. It is just from a fan’s point of view, and we all get sort of sucked in, don’t we, when we see someone kissing the badge and how much it means to them and what have you.
‘But I think every time he put on a black and white shirt, you could never complain about his attitude. You could never complain about his professionalism.
‘But with my professional head on, I understand why he wants to move to the champions.’
Guimaraes will become Arsenal’s third summer signing following winger Christos Tzolis and back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Arsenal begin their Premier League title defence on August 21 with a home match against newly-promoted Coventry City.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.