Bruno Guimaraes' move from Newcastle United to Arsenal has been rated 1/10 by former Magpies defender Steven Taylor, who says he is baffled by the Brazilian's decision to join the Premier League champions. Taylor, now head coach of UAE side Desert Falcon, questioned why Guimaraes chose to leave a project he had been central to on Tyneside.
£75m deal and four-year contract
Arsenal agreed a £75million deal with Newcastle for the former Lyon midfielder, who has signed a four-year contract at the Emirates. Guimaraes spent four seasons at St James' Park before opting to move on, with Newcastle offloading several key players, including Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali, less than a year after Alexander Isak's departure.
"He's made the worst decision," Taylor told Stadium Astro. "I don't understand why he'd leave Newcastle to go to Arsenal, but he made his decision. I'd give that transfer 1/10."
Guimaraes' response and Tonali criticism
"I'm at the point of my life, I think I need a challenge like this," Guimaraes said after signing for the Gunners. "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."
Taylor was equally scathing about Sandro Tonali following the midfielder's £100million switch to Tottenham, Arsenal's north London rivals. The Italian has already faced his former club this season, with Spurs falling to a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle in the second Premier League fixture.
Reception at St James' Park
The former defender said: "He tried too hard and the Newcastle fans gave him hell and the players as well. I'm sure there were a few things said on the pitch with former players getting into as well. He's usually a problem to play against, but against Newcastle he didn't cause any."
Taylor believes both players are in for a rough reception if they return to St James' Park later in the campaign. Arsenal head to the north east in November, with Tottenham following in April. Former Newcastle favourite Isak was met with a torrent of jeers on the opening day of the season after his acrimonious exit in 2025, and the Swede struggled to make any impact against his old club.
Taylor added: "It's always good and the manager will be saying: 'Let's get into them'. You want to make sure the tackles are going in. You want to upset them and you know their weaknesses."
