Tag: Lyon

What will the incredibly gifted Bruno Guimarães bring to St James’ Park?

What will the incredibly gifted Bruno Guimarães bring to St James’ Park?

Newcastle United have officially signed Brazilian international midfielder Bruno Guimarães from Lyon for £40million. Guimarães, 24, completed a medical in Brazil on Friday ahead of signing a contract at St James’ Park until 2026.

The Geordie club agreed a package of £33.3m plus around £6.5m in add-ons with French club Lyon to make the midfielder their third signing this January, following the arrivals of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood.

The midfielder will play for Brazil on Wednesday and will not be able to travel to the UK to meet his new team-mates and head coach Eddie Howe until Thursday at the earliest.

A player blessed with incredible footballing artistry, tactical understanding, and a tenacious edge that has recently had him lauded as one of the most complete central midfielders on the continent.

Bruno Guimarães holds all the attributes needed to spearhead Newcastle’s exciting era under their new Saudi ownership and their push for Premier League survival.

Guimarães moved to Lyon from Brazilian outfit Club Athletico Paranaense in January 2020 and went on to play 295 minutes in their run to the Champions League semi-finals, as the French club famously beat Italian champions Juventus and then English champions Man City before being knocked out by eventual winners Bayern Munich in the last four.

Since then, the 24-year-old midfielder has proven key figure for the French outfit producing some stunning individual displays in midfield, and alerting top clubs around Europe to his incredible gifts and abilities.

Clubs like Arsenal, Juventus and Manchester United have all been reportedly interested in the Brazilian services in recent years, but its Newcastle United who have swamped in and claimed arguably their most impressive signing over the last decade.

The Brazilian has recently been described as an “all-court midfielder, giving Newcastle a bit of everything they lack in the middle… almost a ‘No.6-plus'”. Guimarães’ heatmap during his time in France illustrates he is a defensive midfielder by trade, one tasked in recycling possession, breaking up opposition attacks and screening in front of his back four, but his abilities transcend all of those traits. He’s also a footballer blessed with the attributes, skill and uniqueness to venture forward whenever the opportunities arises with such unerring grace.

As evidenced in the stat below, Guimarães utilizes possession of the ball adeptly, finding his teammates in more dangerous areas as well as passing the ball smartly out of tight positions, so Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe will hope he has found the perfect solution to Newcastle’s ball-retention problems.

Bruno Guimarães is not solely seen as a player who can aid Newcastle’s push for survival – although that is of course, the pressing concern – but the club have also the aim of making the Brazilian central and pivotal to their long-term project in making Newcastle United one of the most feared teams in the Premier League once again. Guimarães is the midfielder around whom the club want to build their ambitious plans.

No doubt about it, Newcastle’s starting XI will be considerably improved by the addition of a box-to-box type player who can break up play, link up with teammates, carry possession and, crucially when the going gets tough, help maintain it to relieve pressure. Newcastle’s ball retention issues have been evident all season, but Guimarães’ composure, craft and vision will begin to address that in abundance.

This season for Lyon, Guimarães has primarily operated as a double-pivot midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 alongside Maxence Caqueret which allows fluidity, control of possession through two players blessed in the art of keeping Lyon’s play flowing from deep areas. Guimarães suits various setups including Howe’s 4-3-3 preference, either as the deep-lying player in the no.6 role, or a free-roaming box-to-box player. As shown throughout this campaign, Guimarães has a versatile skill set on the ball.

Per FBref, his 87.2 touches per 90 puts him in the top 10 percent of midfielders in Ligue 1. Lyon favour a possession-heavy style as seen through their average possession 58.3% compared to Newcastle’s 38.5% – the Premier League’s lowest possession tally. However, possessing a player who likes to have the ball at his feet, Newcastle’s possession stats should grow considerably which means they won’t have to rely on just counter-attacks to score but also through fluid possession-style football.

Bruno Guimarães simply does not give the ball away. He’s completed 92.6% of his short passes for Lyon this season highlighting his incredible knack of setting the tempo for Lyon through quick neat and decisive passes.

He tops the ranking in Ligue 1 for passes completed in the opposition half and sits joint-top with Marseille’s Dimitri Payet for passes completed in the final third. The ability to find defence-splitting passes is illustrated by his high number of completed passes and chances created, while Guimaraes’ fouls won, and touches statistics show there are few more effective carriers of the ball than the Brazilian currently playing in France.

If you need any evidence of his metronomic abilities on the ball, you only need to check out his assist for Lucas Paqueta in the game against Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month. Receiving possession, playing through PSG’s press, then advancing with the ball at his feet before caressing a delightful through over-the-top pass for his fellow Brazilian Paqueta to put Lyon in front.

Players like Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser will be delighted at the rate and quality in which Guimarães finds his teammates with similar passes.

This season for Lyon he sits in the top percentile of midfielders in Europe’s top-five leagues for his abilities on the ball alone. For progressive passes (7.91 per90 mins) he ranks in the top two percent of midfielders on the content, and for progressive carries (8.7 per90 mins) he ranks in the top 3 percent which is simply incredible, but a strong proof that Newcastle have not only signed a player who could help them gain survival this season, but a player who could quite simply transform their whole game under Eddie Howe.

Also, Guimarães averages 1.81 key passes and 8.23 final third passes per 90 this season meaning he is incredibly adept at unlocking opposition defences with such fine regularity, something Newcastle have desperately lacked for a number of years since they possessed the qualities of French midfielder Yohan Cabaye under Alan Pardew. Remember him?

Given Guimarães’ excellent range of passing, he could complement or replace Jonjo Shelvey, Newcastle’s deep-lying playmaker who holds exquisite distribution like his new teammate but lacks the mobility, and tenaciousness when carrying possession. This season, no player in Ligue 1 has completed more progressive passes than Guimarães or passes into the final third.

Whilst also possessing the knack of playing key passes, the Brazilian also enjoys carrying the ball in order to evade opposition pressure or carry his team up the pitch. As evidenced above, his 8.7 progressive carries per 90 – carries that move the ball towards the opponent’s goal at least five yards or into the penalty area – place him among the top five per cent for midfielders in Ligue 1 and in Europe. He successfully completes 1.21 dribbles per 90, which is impressive for a defensive midfield player, he also averages 1.54 dribbles past an opposition player, and 2.53 carries into the final third proving he’d fit right at home in the Premier League due to his all-action and creative style.

Defensively, Guimarães is also extremely active and effective. His combative qualities have been right up there with the best in Ligue 1 this season, where he ranks fourth for duels won, seventh for tackles, and is joint-sixth for possession won in the middle third. His tackles + interceptions value per 90 reads at 5.11 which is again, an incredible reading. Guimarães ranks 25th for possession won back in the attacking third, an impressive additional quality for a defence-minded midfielder which speaks volumes for his ability to press all over the pitch.

As per FBref, his 423 pressures in Ligue 1 this season is the third-best in the league highlighting his all-encompassing style. Guimarães isn’t just a samba-style creator on the ball, but he’s warrior and a combative player off it too justifying his tag as one of the most complete midfield players on the continent. The stats highlighted throughout this piece tells its own story.

When you combine Guimaraes’ attacking and defensive qualities it’s clear Newcastle have identified a midfielder with genuine box-to-box qualities, a rare find at the best of times, let alone during a notoriously difficult January window which could be the difference between Premier League safety and relegation.

When you possess a footballer as good as Bruno Guimarães, beating relegation is a sure bet but its what comes after that the Newcastle owners will be hoping this particular investment will lead them through in not only building for the future but also attracting footballers with similar qualities and standing as Bruno Guimarães.

The exciting future the Brazilian has been promised on Tyneside may yet become a reality.

How Newcastle could line-up against Everton on February 8

5 creative midfielders Arsenal MUST consider to address final third issues

5 creative midfielders Arsenal MUST consider to address final third issues

The new Premier League season kicks off this weekend, and Arsenal still haven’t addressed their pressing need of acquiring an elite attacking midfielder armed in providing them with the creative abilities to take their game under Mikel Arteta to the next level.

Their pre-season friendly defeat to rivals Tottenham Hotspur was a game which showed a lot of promise, especially the new signings Ben White and Albert Sambi Lokonga who both put in dominant and assured performances as they continue the acclimatization into their new surroundings.

(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

However, it was a game which looked all to familiar for Arsenal’s supporters, a lot of nice intricate passing around the final third without some real penetration to complement it. Emile Smith-Rowe has been a lovely sight for Arsenal fans, and a welcome one too. A very talented and fresh addition straight from the academy, but he cannot be relied upon to drive Arsenal into that brand new era, its too much responsibility and weight on his shoulders.

Both he and Bukayo Saka need help in those areas.

How the Gunners need the qualities of Mesut Ozil (in his prime), Cesc Fabregas or even Santi Cazorla again, players who were blessed in creating the unthinkable.

You hand them the ball in those dangerous areas, and its as if time stands still. That’s what Mikel Arteta needs right now, its what Arsenal need in order to challenge for those top four places again, or to go even further.

Arsenal are arguably in the same position Manchester United were before January 2020, lacking that incision and precision in the final third before they went out and ferociously addressed that burning desire, signing Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon. Since then, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fortunes as Manchester United boss has dramatically changed – they’re on the upward curve.

Mikel Arteta needs to go out do the same, regardless of the potential risk and cost. Leicester City’s James Maddison is reportedly a top target, however Brendan Rodgers is in no pressure to sell and it would take in the regions of £70m to prize him away from the King Power.

It is a costly risk, one which could very much address Arsenal’s pressing need. Maddison is indeed one of the Premier League’s most reliable creators, especially in those final third areas, as shown above. But, Leicester City are unlikely to sell one of their most prized assets, especially so close to the start of the new season, and without a readied replacement.

Alternatives will need to be considered at the Emirates, quality ones too. So here’s a few cheaper, more attainable and arguably more acquired tastes that could blend in with Arsenal’s game perfectly:

Daichi Kamada, Eintracht Frankfurt

Arguably the best performing Asian footballer in Europe over the past year. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Japanese magician Daichi Kamada is a stunning footballer, an efficient workhorse and a creative maestro.

Have a look at Frankfurt’s attacks and you’ll see how pivotal Kamada is, he is at the centre of almost everything.

His movement, the positions he picks up, the space he occupies and the passes he delivers is simply sublime and a testament to his extraordinary understanding and nous when it comes to creating chances for his teammates.

The Japanese international may be something of an unknown quantity to some Arsenal supporters, but he’s a player who currently deserves some rich acclaim and attention right now.

5 goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season, as Frankfurt narrowly missed out on an unprecedented Champions League place on the last day of the season. However, it was a stunning campaign for the club and for Kamada personally, and the Japanese is sure to be on a number of top club’s list of targets this summer.

Mikel Arteta would do exceptionally well to consider targeting the source of Frankfurt’s goals.

Kamada is one of those players who manages to be technically impressive without being flamboyant. Carries the ball neatly, with some sumptuous little touches and swift shifts in direction, and he exploits passing angles and lanes in the attacking third in a way that’s so clever, intricate but unusual.

He’s a unique player, and another one who deserves to test himself at the highest level. 2.90 final third passes, 1.8 key passes and an astonishing 4.05 shot-creating actions per 90 highlights his incredible efficiency and effectiveness in the final third. Kamada has so much to offer, not only in his skill, tenaciousness and technical qualities but in his application and willingness to learn and improve.

Lorenzo Pellegrini, AS Roma

Yet another uniquely gifted midfielder who surprisingly still graces the Stadio Olimpico.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is a Champions League-quality midfielder, who deserves to be playing at the highest level for one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. It’s a shocking surprise that no top club in Europe has managed to trigger his relatively low release clause which stands at around €30million.

Lorenzo Pellegrini would represent an outstanding acquisition for Mikel Arteta simply because of his devastating abilities in the final third. Pellegrini is a creative magician, a technically savvy orchestrator.

The 25-year old would be Arsenal’s very own ‘Bruno Fernandes-type signing’. A player who will fit in swiftly and seamlessly without no bedding-in period, without no teething issues because he is simply that intelligent, classy and decisive.

Traditionally an attacking midfielder, Lorenzo Pellegrini holds all the tools necessary to play anywhere across the midfield. As a deep-lying no.6, a roaming no. 8 and a play-making, creative no.10.

In Paulo Fonseca’s system, he played the attacking midfield role, as a no.10 in their 4-2-3-1 shape or 3-4-2-1, operating just behind Edin Dzeko.

This role allowed him to become the team’s main source of creativity and a hub in which every attacking player can link with. While teams in the current age, have their main creative hubs in the deep-lying positions in front of the defence, Roma’s orchestrator is Lorenzo Pellegrini at no.10.

As well as possessing the qualities to perform in a traditional no.10 role, he’s a more unorthodox attacking midfielder, regularly drifting into the wide areas or half-spaces. It keeps defensive midfielders and the back-line guessing, also causing a state of disruption and panic in their defensive shape.

Arsenal regularly deploy the 4-2-3-1 shape, in which Pellegrini could easily slot in behind the lone frontman. It could well mean Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to the role up-front, simply because of Pellegrini’s superb ability to pick the unthinkable eye-of-the-needle passes.

The Italian would have been another key figure for European Champions Italy this summer had he not picked up an injury just before the tournament got underway, but he’s a player many cannot ignore.

2.18 key passes, 3.98 final third passes, 4.36 progressive passes and 1.42 passes into the 18-yard box per 90 just highlights Pellegrini’s astonishing abilities to dissect opposition defences at will. A no-brainer acquisition for Arsenal.

Houssem Aouar, Lyon

How Houssem Aouar is not on Arsenal’s list of priorities to fill that no.10 position is simply baffling, even to the Arsenal faithful. It may well be in part because of his latest disciplinary issues at Lyon, however, it is clear the player desires a new challenge elsewhere and Lyon are indeed resigned to losing him in the the near future.

It is an opportunity Arsenal cannot afford to pass up on. Houssem Aouar is a player blessed with such extraordinary technical qualities.

A meticulous ball-player, harnessing the uniqueness of when to hold on to the ball, and when to release it. His amazing sense of gravity and close control means its difficult for his markers to have an understanding of where he’s going or when to dispossess him.

Mikel Arteta craves a player who goes about performing risks in the final third, or taking people on to create space for himself and his forwards. Aouar possesses those unique qualities. He averaged 7.00 progressive carries and 2.47 carries into the final third last season, better than all of Arsenal’s attacking options.

The midfielder also holds such fantastic spatial awareness and capacity to switch directions in an instant. If he finds there’s nowhere to go when dribbling, he’ll instantly change direction with a swift drop of the shoulder and such crisp close control.

Whenever, the ball is at Aouar’s feet, his teammates know something special is about to happen especially within the attacking third. Per 90 last season, he averaged 6 passes into the final third meaning he plays risky passes with such considerable regularity. Stats serving as a true indication as to his incredible expertise in creating chances, further shown through his 5.10 shot-creating actions per90 too.

The 23-year-old only recorded three assists in Ligue 1 last year which is very surprising considering his invention and imagination in the final third, but he’s importance and influence in those areas for Lyon were very stark.

As soon as he picks up the ball, he already has a picture of what he’s going to do, whether to dribble past opponents, or dissect an eye of the needle pass to his forwards. No matter the amount of opponents around him, Aouar holds the balance, silky footwork and quickness of thought required to conjure up magic despite being under pressure.

His ball-carrying capabilities could prove vital to Arsenal’s system, allowing them to get out of trouble but most importantly in creating opportunities and openings in the final third.

Houssem Aouar is also a meticulous and imaginative number 8, and if 4-3-3 really is Arteta’s preferred formation then the French international will potentially fit in seamlessly.

Marcel Sabitzer, RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig’s new coach Jesse Marsch admitted that midfield dynamo Marcel Sabitzer’s future will lie away from Leipzig in the near future, and considering the price the Austrian is currently valued at, Arsenal would do very very well in recruiting his services.

The 26-year-old is available for a cut-price deal at just €18million, an extraordinary bargain, and whoever captures him could well be rewarded with the ‘smartest buy of the summer’ gong.

Marcel Sabitzer is a wonderful midfield performer, but a very orthodox one. To the eye, he’s your regular midfielder who is energetic, technically very good and has a good eye for the pass, but what stands him out so well is that he performs such roles with great application, professionalism and a real cutting edge that even the best teams on the continent would kill for.

He’s very versatile, capable of playing at no.10. at no.8, as a no.6 or even as a left-winger. Sabitzer is so good to watch. No matter where you put him on the pitch, he’ll give you his best.

Capable of cutting defences with such unerring vigour and precision, also capable of running at defences, linking well with his teammates and also holds the unique qualities of picking out the top-corner from all of about 35-yards. He is a jack-of-all-trades type player, and its no wonder new Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is so desperate to reunite with him, after possessing his qualities for Leipzig.

Not only will be brilliant for Bayern Munich, who also desperately need his services but he’d be brilliant for Mikel Arteta. He’s very cheap, attainable and arguably a better player than James Maddison – more consistent in fact. The midfielder averaged 5.38 passes into the final third per90 despite playing in a variety of positions under Nagelsmann, but that owes to his tremendous technical acumen in creating chances no matter where he is on the pitch. Sabitzer also averaged 2.13 passes into the 18-yard box and an outstanding 7.07 progressive passes per 90.

He is not afraid in conjuring up the most outrageous, if you need any evidence, just check out his extraordinary assist for Austria at the Euros, setting up Stefan Lainer with a ridiculous long-raking pass.

It’s that sort of audaciousness in the final third that Arsenal so desperately crave.

Carlos Soler, Valencia

Mikel Arteta will almost certainly be silly if he doesn’t try and recruit a player who is his splitting image on the pitch; Valencia’s Carlos Soler.

Valencia’s creative orchestrator has been due a big move for a long while and Soler is a player ready for the big leagues.

The club are in a bit of a free-fall right now both on the pitch and off it, and are reportedly willing to listen to offers for some of their big names at cut-price deals.

If that is indeed the case, Arsenal should roll the dice and prioritize the signing of Carlos Soler. A tremendously consistent performer, even if his club isn’t registering the points they need.

It’s clear Soler deserves a club who matches his qualities and ambitions. He’s simply too good a player to not be performing on the biggest stages in Europe, whether that is Europa League or the UEFA Champions League.

Despite Valencia’s struggles last season, Soler still managed an astonishing 11 goals and 8 assists in La Liga highlighting his significance to the team, but also his extraordinary abilities.

A wonderfully gifted midfielder who always gives his all in every match he’s involved in. Soler is incredibly versatile too, capable of playing at no.10, no.8 on the flanks and a deep-lying orchestrator, he’d offer so much variation and tactical flexibility when needed.

Soler is as creative as all of the names on this list, providing eight assists last year. He is simply a superb player to watch, and has been on Arsenal’s radar before. He outperformed his expected goals and expected assists, as well as providing 0.26 assists per 90 minutes which means he is one of Europe’s most consistent creators. 1.45 key passes and 5.20 final third passes only highlights his efficiency and nous in those dangerous areas.

Where Valencia would be without Carlos Soler is a matter for another day, but it is about time he moves on from the Mestalla and embarks on a new challenge elsewhere.

Arsenal could certainly prove the most telling environment for him to thrive in.