I’m Your Warrior, Guimaraes Sends Message To Arsenal Fans, Targets Trophies
New Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes says he wants to win trophies and create a lasting legacy at the club after completing his move from Newcastle United.
The Brazil international signed a long-term contract with Arsenal and said the opportunity represented the challenge he was seeking at this stage of his career.
“I’m very excited,” Guimaraes said in his first interview as an Arsenal player on the club website on Saturday. “I’m at the point of my life where I need a challenge like this. I want to win trophies, I want to make history and I think I’m in the right place to do it. I’m so excited to start.”
Guimaraes, who joined Newcastle in January 2022, has faced Arsenal several times during his Premier League career.
He revealed that fellow midfielder Declan Rice had already welcomed him to the club.
“Rice sent me a message: ‘Come here and please no more fights, now we’re friends!’ I was happy he messaged me,” he said.
The 28-year-old said he regarded Arsenal’s midfield as one of the strongest in Europe and identified the club’s possession-based and defensive approach as compatible with his own style.
“In my point of view, [the Arsenal midfield] is one of the best in Europe. Everyone is an amazing player.
“Every time when I play against [Arsenal] it was very tough. They keep the ball, they defend like one. I think that combination is the way I like to play as well, and of course, joining the winners of the league is always a big opportunity,” he said.
Guimaraes said he would bring his ability to pass, run and contribute defensively while also looking to add goals to the team.
“I can pass the ball, run a lot and play like a warrior, I’ll never give up. I will try to help the team, [I’m] good with the ball, composed, very calm, and sometimes I can score some goals and hope to make everyone very, very happy here,” he said.
The midfielder said his previous achievements, including winning trophies in Brazil, an Olympic gold medal and silverware with Newcastle, had only increased his desire for more success.
“It’s massive what I have done so far, but I want more. I want to win for Arsenal. I want to win more trophies in my career, and I think I’m in the right place, at my peak at 28 years old,” he stated.
Guimaraes also said he wanted his time at Arsenal to leave a mark on the club and inspire future players.
“I want to put my name in the club history. Someday, when I leave, I want players to come here and say I want to do exactly what Bruno did for the club.
“I think it’s the best thing that a player can do for the club: create history and inspire the young,” the Brazilian said.
Guimaraes will become the 17th Brazilian to play for Arsenal and said former midfielder Gilberto Silva was a player whose career at the club he hoped to emulate.
“Of course, Gilberto Silva. I love him as a player,” he said. “I had the opportunity before to talk to Gilberto Silva. I hope I can follow his history here and make myself one of the very good players at Arsenal in history.”
The midfielder will retain his preferred number 39 shirt, which has personal significance because of his father’s work as a taxi driver in Brazil.
Guimaraes said his father had recommended the number when he joined a top Brazilian club, telling him, “The 39 gave you everything.”
He subsequently wore the number at Athletico Paranaense and has retained it throughout his career.
“When I got to Athletico Paranaense, I went to do the medical and when I opened [my bag], the number 39 was in there and I was very scared.
“At that moment, I called my father and when I told him the history, he started to cry. He said: ‘I told you, this number is going to give you luck.’ Since then, I’ve always been the 39,” he declared.
Guimaraes ended his message to Arsenal supporters by promising to give his best for the club.
“The message for me is thank you for everything you have done. All the messages you gave me, I’m so excited to join you. I will give you my best, I promise. Like I said, I’m your warrior, I’ll never give up. Hopefully we can create many, many good memories together,” he concluded.
