Bruno Guimaraes has revealed that Mikel Arteta has banned him from taking set pieces at Arsenal, just weeks after his £75million transfer from Newcastle United.
The Brazilian was a leading figure at St James' Park, where he was entrusted with additional responsibilities, including being the club's designated set-piece taker. He regularly took corners and free-kicks under Eddie Howe, but that will not be the case in north London.
Arsenal's set-piece dominance
Arsenal led the Premier League in goals from set plays last season, and Guimaraes is yet to be given the chance to help defend that accolade in 2026/27. The Gunners netted 25 league goals from set pieces, excluding penalties, last season. Furthermore, 10 of Declan Rice's 20 Premier League assists for Arsenal have come from corners or free kicks.
"I'm still getting used to [Arsenal's set piece routines]," Guimaraes said on the Men In Blazers podcast. "There's a lot [to learn]. We're training a lot, almost every day for set pieces."
Asked whether Arteta was letting him take corners yet, the 28-year-old replied with a smile: "Not yet, not yet."
Guimaraes' reputation and debut
Guimaraes has cemented his reputation as one of the league's most threatening set-piece deliverers. He even netted directly from a corner in Newcastle's 2-1 victory over Burnley last season.
Yet Arsenal's approach to set pieces is an entirely different matter. In recent campaigns, the Gunners have crafted an elaborate repertoire of precisely choreographed corner and free-kick routines that have propelled them to become one of the most formidable set-piece teams in world football.
The Brazil international made his Arsenal debut in the Community Shield, playing his part as the Gunners defeated Manchester City 3-0 to claim the trophy in the traditional pre-season showpiece. But he was left out of the squad for Friday's 3-0 Premier League victory over Coventry City.
Arteta's cautious approach
Arteta revealed ahead of the match that Guimaraes had sustained a minor training injury and he was unwilling to take any chances. "He had a slight tension in his groin, he hasn't done a pre-season," the Spanish boss said. "He had only four or five days before that game [Community Shield]. It is a lot of new stuff for him as well, and we need to take it bit-by-bit."
Since his £75m signing at the beginning of August, Arsenal supporters have been eagerly anticipating the prospect of Guimaraes combining with Rice in midfield. The Brazilian, it appears, is equally enthused, having experienced his share of encounters with the England international during their time as Premier League rivals.
"Rice has a little bit of everything, he's so good with the ball but he defends like a lion... his presence in the midfield is unbelievable," Guimaraes said. "It was very difficult playing against him and now I can finally play with him. I hope we can be very successful together."
