Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will be secretly confident of retaining the Premier League title in 2026/27, but more will need to be done to further improve their chances of success next term.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool will all start the new season under new managers, but there is no doubt that they will need time to adapt to the demands of their respective managers.
The Gunners have an element of continuity in their favor since winning the title last season, so supporters are certainly hungry for more glory days at the Emirates.
However, Arteta has one major concern ahead of the new campaign and it is vital that the leaders listen to his demands if he is to resolve his senior issues.
How can Bruno Guimarães solve Arteta’s biggest problem?
Arsenal manager Arteta will no doubt be concerned about the lack of depth in the central midfield department in the senior ranks ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Martin Zvimendi will take an extended break from North London following World Cup glory, but Declan Rice definitely needs some extra time off after a relentless period over the past 12 months.
Confidence in Christian Norgaard appears to be at an all-time low, with the Denmark international on sale this summer, which could open up a move for Newcastle United star Bruno Guimarães.
The Gunners have long been interested in the Brazilian, having had two offers for his signature rejected by manager Eddie Howe this summer.
Highest G+A total by Premier League commercial (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
Bruno Guimarães | 14 |
Casemiro | 11 |
Declan Rice | 9 |
james garner | 9 |
Elliot Anderson | 8 |
Anton Stach | 8 |
ryan graven birch | 8 |
Alex Iwobi | 7 |
Such interest is not surprising given his level last season, where he created 1.7 chances in 90 games, ranking in the top 14% of all midfielders in England’s top flight.
His 10 goals last season showed his ability to contribute in attack, and he could be an even bigger asset for Arteta’s side in 2026/27.
Despite not having the ball last season, Guimarães became a mainstay with the ball, going on to score 6.2 ground duels and making 9.3 defensive contributions per 90 points.
How can Arsenal sign a better talent than Guimarães?
The recent bid to sign Guimarães this summer is evidence that Arteta wants further reinforcements in the center of his squad, which makes sense given the factors surrounding options currently being planned.
Missing out on Morgan Rodgers will be a blow given the continued interest in him, but it highlights that the Gunners will only move on targets that are available at the right price.
Cheaper replacements have since been considered in the center of the squad, with Manu Kohn emerging as an option for the north London outfit in recent days.
According to MailOnline, Arsenal are holding internal transfer discussions to sign the France international.
According to these reports, Manchester United also remain keen on the 25-year-old, with Roma currently demanding £42m to offload the talent this summer.
Like Guimarães, Kone featured for his country at the recent World Cup and his performances have no doubt led to the Gunners’ interest in signing him.
However, when comparing their respective performances in the summer tournament, the Frenchman outperformed the £85m star in a number of key areas.
The Roma star completed 92% of his attempted passes and had a long ball success rate of 71%. Both numbers are higher than those produced by Guimarães.
Such numbers also rank him above 80% of other midfielders at the World Cup, potentially making him the perfect ball-playing option for Arteta’s possession-based system.
Even without the ball in his hands, Cone was able to utilize the Magpies’ talent to his advantage, as evidenced by his high ball recoveries per 90 and aerial duels won.
He applied relentless pressure high up the pitch before breaking through his lines and ranking in the top 10% of possessions won in the final third. This confirmed his praise of Thierry Henry, whom he described as “one of the best midfielders”.
Guimarães may appear to be the club’s number one option in midfield, but they should focus all their efforts on signing the connection this summer.
He has proven that he is capable of performing on the biggest stage. This will be essential for the Gunners to achieve further success next term.
The £42 million deal would also be a bargain for the club, meaning the Frenchman would be available for half the price of the Brazilian, but would give the Gunners a serious top-level operator.
