Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for £40m-rated Corinthians midfielder Breno Bidon, while Vinicius Junior has thanked Gunners star Bruno Guimaraes for a selfless penalty gesture during Brazil's 4-2 friendly win over Australia.
The reigning Premier League champions are weighing up new signings to bolster their title defence following their first defeat of the campaign - a 3-0 loss to Brighton. Before that setback, Mikel Arteta's side had won seven consecutive matches across all competitions. The Spanish manager will hope his squad avoid injuries during the international break ahead of Leeds United's visit to North London on October 10.
Kai Havertz has already returned from Germany's squad due to a slight muscle problem. Meanwhile, the Premier League has been shaken by Manchester City being found guilty of 114 out of 115 breaches of financial rules.
Vinicius Junior thanks Arsenal star
Vinicius Junior has expressed gratitude to Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes for allowing him to take Brazil's 80th-minute penalty during the 4-2 victory over Australia. With the score at 3-2, Brazil were awarded a late spot-kick in Tuesday's friendly. Regular penalty taker Raphinha had left the field, leaving Guimaraes next in line.
However, acknowledging Vinicius' need for a confidence boost due to his recent lack of goals, the Gunners' summer signing passed the ball to Vinicius, enabling him to score and lift his morale. The Real Madrid player, who was strongly linked with Arsenal in the summer before signing a contract extension, thanked Guimaraes after the match.
The striker said: "Bruno Guimaraes is our penalty taker when Raphinha isn't playing, and I thought he'd want to take it, but he knows that I need a bit of confidence right now, in this moment. My team-mates know I need some confidence now. Losing a World Cup is hard and difficult to accept, and the comeback is never easy."
Guimaraes confirmed what Vinicius said later, underlining the squad's solidarity. "That was the reason [the penalty gave Vini confidence]," he clarified. "After the penalty incident, many things came to light. But here in the national team, we have no vanity whatsoever. In the World Cup, [manager Carlo] Ancelotti told me to take the penalty. Today, he told Vini to take it. Vini really needed to score a goal. He took it very well. We have no vanity whatsoever. We want what's best for Brazil. We're happy for him and it's about continuing the work."
£40m-rated Brazilian 'pursued'
Arsenal could be poised to add another Brazilian to their squad, according to a report. TEAMtalk suggests the north Londoners are keen on pursuing 21-year-old Corinthians midfielder Breno Bidon, having initially made contact regarding his potential acquisition back in January.
The £40m-rated prospect earned his first senior cap for Brazil this week, playing alongside his idol Guimaraes. He declined to discuss his growing links with Arsenal but expressed his respect for the Gunners star. Bidon told Gazeta Esportiva: "From the current generation, Bruno Guimaraes is someone I follow a lot. He had a very good World Cup and managed to stand out. He is someone who has already experienced a lot in football. He started young in Brazil and he's someone I really look up to. From what I've seen while being around him, he has a very good and winning mentality. And on the pitch, I don't even need to say anything. He's been playing really well."
Arsenal have yet to table a formal offer for Bidon, but they allegedly requested to be kept updated on his progress earlier this year. It is suggested that whether they pursue him depends on Martin Zubimendi's future, given the Spaniard has dropped down Arteta's hierarchy since the latter stages of last season, and his possible departure.
