Arteta Offers Fresh Bruno Guimaraes Update After Arsenal Win

Mikel Arteta has dismissed suggestions Bruno Guimaraes could be sidelined for six or seven weeks after the midfielder missed the opening fixture of Arsenal’s Premier League season.

Guimaraes was absent for Friday night’s 3-0 Premier League win against Coventry, having picked up the issue during last weekend’s Community Shield triumph over Manchester City.

The Brazilian started at Wembley but came off at half-time, later spotted on the bench with ice strapped to his thigh. That left his involvement in the league opener in question.

Before facing Coventry, Arteta was cautious, saying Guimaraes was 'evolving really well' but not quite ready to confirm his availability.

After the final whistle, though, his tone was far more reassuring.

Asked if Guimaraes might be out for as long as six or seven weeks, Arteta was quick to dismiss that idea.

“No, no, no, no,” he said. “We expect that to not be weeks at all. Let’s see how he evolves this week.”

It’s an encouraging update for the Gunners, especially considering how quickly Guimaraes has had to settle in since arriving from Newcastle.

Arteta also revealed just how reluctant Guimaraes was to come off against City.

“He didn’t even want to stop,” Arteta said. “He wanted to carry on and we start to understand the character of the player, but I don’t expect that to be a big issue.”

Guimaraes had barely settled at the club before starting the Community Shield, joining late in pre-season after his World Cup commitments; the decision to remove the new signing at half-time was ultimately in the best interest of both the midfielder and Arsenal.

His absence against Coventry gave Declan Rice a route back into the starting XI, with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martin Odegaard lining up alongside him in midfield.

Arsenal, though, hardly looked short on options. Arteta’s side took control early, with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka putting the champions two up before Odegaard rounded things off after the break.

With that kind of depth, there’s little reason to rush Guimaraes back, especially so early in the season.

Even in the short time since moving to North London, the midfielder has already made an impression on both Arteta and the wider squad.

He started in Arsenal’s Community Shield win and spoke this week about his hunger for more trophies, having already picked up silverware in his first competitive outing for the club.

The injury may have interrupted that early momentum, but Arteta’s comments suggest Arsenal are facing something far less serious than first feared.

Arteta stopped short of giving a return date after the Coventry win, instead pointing to how Guimaraes responds in the days ahead.

The Gunners now face a trip to Aston Villa, one week after having signed centre-back Ezri Konsa from the Villans.

Whether he’s ready in time for that game will depend on his progress, but fears of a long lay-off have been firmly put to bed.

With the Gunners already starting the season without William Saliba and Jurrien Timber due to injury, it’s welcome news for an Arsenal squad already juggling a few fitness concerns.

Guimaraes may have had to watch the league opener from the sidelines, but Arteta does not expect him to be there for long.