Bruno Guimaraes sparked injury concern during Arsenal's 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City on Sunday. The £75million signing from Newcastle made his competitive debut but was substituted at half-time for Declan Rice.
Concerns grew when Guimaraes later appeared from the tunnel with an ice pack strapped to his thigh. One Arsenal fan questioned on X: "Why's Bruno wearing an ice pack already?" Another said: "Hope it's precautionary," while a third added: "I'm worried about that."
Debut and Trophy
Arsenal won 3-0 at the Millennium Stadium, with Riccardo Calafiori opening the scoring inside 30 seconds. Kai Havertz doubled the lead by nodding the ball underneath Gianluigi Donnarumma, before Martin Odegaard showed composure to sit the goalkeeper down after being picked out by Christos Tzolis.
Guimaraes watched the second half from the bench as he collected his first trophy for Arsenal. Taking to Instagram to mark the occasion, the Brazilian wrote: "First official game and first trophy in this shirt. Always important to start off on the right foot. Happy and excited about everything we have ahead of us. Thanks, God."
Newcastle Farewell
Guimaraes ended his four-year spell on Tyneside this summer, having established himself as both a fan favourite and a leader. The 28-year-old still had two years left on his contract but informed Magpies chiefs he wanted to leave if a suitable offer arrived.
In a farewell message, he said: "Dear Geordies, today is the time to say goodbye. First of all I want to thank you for everything we have lived together for almost five years. It was a pleasure for me to wear the black and white shirt. I gave my best from day one on the pitch and off the pitch. Your support made everything feel easy for me on the pitch. Your affection, love and respect for me and my family was unbelievable. I knew I am Brazilian but I am sure a second part of me is a Geordie."
He added: "It was here my family grew with the arrival of my two sons. Both Matteo and Pietro and they also experienced unforgettable moments with us at St. James' Park and they will always carry those memories with them. It was an incredible privilege to be part of this club, a rebuilding journey alongside all of you. We grew together, we dreamed together and we won together. This farewell comes down to a difference of ideas, something that can happen in a relationship as beautiful, as strong and as passionate as ours. Sometimes life leads us in a different direction."
He thanked Mehrdad Ghodoussi, Amanda Staveley, Jamie Reuben, Eddie Howe, and everyone who brought him to the club, saying: "This adventure will always be in my mind, and I am grateful to live this with you guys. In my name, and the name of my family, I thank you for everything we have done together. I will never forget. The chants of 'Bruno, Bruno, Bruno' I won't forget. It was unbelievable to be a Geordie."
With Arsenal opening their Premier League defence against Coventry City on Friday night (8pm), Guimaraes' condition is now an early talking point.
