Mikel Merino Hails Arsenal's Midfield as Best in Football After £75m Bruno Guimaraes Signing
Mikel Merino has confidently stated that Arsenal now possess the strongest midfield in football following the high-profile £75 million signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United. The Brazilian international's arrival further strengthens a squad that captured the Premier League title last season.
A Midfield to Rival Any Club
Merino described the current midfield setup under manager Mikel Arteta as "unreal," highlighting the depth and talent available. He said, "Probably the best midfield in football. The amount of quality that we have there, with every player that can come on the pitch and make a good shift. It’s great."
He also stressed how this competitive environment pushes everyone to perform better, adding, "That’s good for the team. That’s good for the squad. It raises everyone’s level because if you have a bad day, the one that is close to you is going to do a great job."
High Praise for Bruno Guimaraes
Reflecting on his new teammate, Merino called Guimaraes an "amazing signing" who has proven his worth over the years at Newcastle. The midfielder praised his composure, technical skill, and defensive effort, saying, "He showed it today again. A lot of composure, technical ability, a lot of defensive effort as well. So it’s a very good signing. A top player, but we have many of those in this team. So everyone that comes to help the team is welcome."
Immediate Impact in Pre-season
Guimaraes wasted no time settling into the squad, making his debut in a pre-season match against Italian side Como. Despite having just three training sessions with the team, he pushed hard to play and impress. Arteta noted, "He was really pushing to play some minutes today. He wanted to get his debut and the feeling of playing in front of our fans immediately. You sense it immediately. I believe there’s a strong connection at play and that is going to make us better."
Squad Ambitions Remain High
Although Arsenal claimed the Premier League crown last term, Merino insists the hunger for success is far from over. He emphasized that alongside their squad depth and quality, the team is driven by an intense desire to win more trophies. "I think we have an amazing squad. The hunger is still there. Not because we won it last season, we’re going to be happy with it," he said. "We want more and more and more and we want every trophy possible. That’s the best quality of this team. Not only the amount of depth that we have, the quality that we have in every position, but that hunger."
- Player: Bruno Guimaraes
- Transfer Fee: £75 million
- Previous Club: Newcastle United
- Contract Length: Four years
- Debut Match: Pre-season game vs Como
- Manager: Mikel Arteta
- Competition Ambition: Aim to win every possible trophy
