Arsenal are on the verge of adding Bruno Guimaraes to their squad, and Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that move could be bad news for Martin Zubimendi.
The Spanish midfielder joined the club a year ago and made an immediate impact as the Gunners won the Premier League crown and finished the season in the Champions League final.
Guimaraes arrival creates competition
Zubimendi’s performances were one of the reasons Arsenal enjoyed a successful season, and the Gunners continue to trust him as an important member of the squad.
However, Arsenal have now decided to add Guimaraes to their midfield options during this transfer window, which could create a difficult situation for the Spaniard.
Guimaraes is an accomplished Premier League midfielder who has delivered strong performances for Newcastle United over the years. His arrival would increase competition for places in Arsenal’s midfield.
The Magpies do not want to sell him, but they have been involved in discussions with Arsenal, with all parties reaching an agreement to avoid a long-drawn-out transfer situation.
Agbonlahor questions Zubimendi’s role
Arsenal supporters are delighted that Guimaraes is set to join the team, but his arrival could come at the expense of another popular player in the squad.
According to Talk Sport, Agbonlahor said: “They’ve sold Norgaard to Everton. So you’re looking at that midfield and you’re saying it’s a bit light now.
“I think he’s a fantastic player. We were just talking, me and Jeff off air, that probably says Zubimendi, maybe you’re a squad player next season.”
The comments suggest that Guimaraes could immediately challenge Zubimendi for a regular place in the Arsenal midfield. Despite the Spaniard’s positive contribution during his first season, competition for starting positions will become stronger.
Arsenal’s decision to strengthen their midfield shows their ambition, but it also means several players will have to fight for their roles. Zubimendi will now face a fresh challenge as Guimaraes prepares to compete for opportunities in the squad.
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Would like skelly to beat them all he is a hidden gem of the current squad.
That’s what we need! Competition for all positions,of the highest calibre.
It’s a long old season and with the games it brings,
They will all be needed.
What it signifies is that there’s no more game time for Lewis-Skelly in the midfield. The left attacking midfielder/winger they should be aggressive about getting is not even paid any attention to the way they’ve aggressively pursued the signing of Bruno who should be at the bottom of priority, and at such unreasonably huge amount. I hope his arrival proves my doubts and disappointment wrong.
trying to second guess playing time for our midfielders – I think I can do better than flabby Gabby – firstly once Skelly got into midfield, Arteta wasn’t leaving him out, including starting in key games at West Ham, the big final. He’s just a teenager but he was great in the final, and in the other games. Let’s not underestimate the pressure Skelly will put on the others once getting in and playing well. Secondly Zooby is a favourite of Arteta’s, so let’s not underestimate how much playing time Favourites get in teams. Thirdly, injuries and fitness. When was the last time Ode was match fit? He’s had his issues, hips, knees, it could be bumpsiedaisy next. When was the last time Rice played without pain or issues? Bruno had injury problem last season too – now it could be in these first few months we could see a lot of starting elevens without either Rice, Ode and Bruno in them! Fourthly system change. It’s been 6 behind left and right 8 for so long – it’s been Ode more right 8 than 10. we havn’t played 10. Rice and Bruno could be double pivot, and we could be playing actual 10 more often, that maybe finds the best from Eze and Havertz, perhaps Ode too.
Finally, Bruno. He is on record as preferring 8. now 8 and 6 is subtly different in Arteta’s system than Newcastles, but fwiw Bruno played 6 a lot before Tonali came – and Tonali banned for a year – so stats are Bruno played most times at 6 than 8 for Newcastle. Zoob, Bruno, Dec can all play six – no excuse someone’s been played into the ground by end of season in 6 position – but I expect Bruno to turn out at 8 for us more than 6. I think Flabby Gabby is wrong – Zoob will be a consistent 6, Rice, Gabi, Ode, Skells, Eze will share 8’s quite evenly depending how fitness goes.
MLS blew Zubimendi out of the water. We would not have won the league if Zubimendi has played to the end of the season. MLS showed us what we had been missing. Drive, ball carries, strength, bravery and quality forward passing.
❤️ Skelly. Just how good can he be come 4 and 10 years.
There was a flaw in my analysis as it completely missed Merino.
Based on fitness issues, we could see a lot of Merino, Skelly, Zooby midfields in the coming months, with bits of Eze.