Guimaraes hamstring blow raises doubts as Odegaard opens up on injury-hit title season

Bruno Guimaraes has been hampered by a hamstring injury in the opening weeks of his Arsenal career, casting early doubt over the £75m signing’s ability to hit the ground running at the Emirates Stadium. The 28-year-old Brazil international joined from Newcastle last month but has yet to establish himself in Mikel Arteta’s midfield rotation.

Former Manchester United and Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt has questioned whether Guimaraes will carry the same influence he had at St James’ Park, where he was central to Eddie Howe’s transformation of the club into trophy winners and regular Champions League qualifiers.

“I think he’s a very, very good player, so I would say hit — but the reason why I’m not is because I think the team’s focal points have to be around him,” Butt said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast. “I don’t think Arsenal will do that. I think there’s other players in that team to do that. He’ll be a miss.”

Guimaraes faces fierce competition for minutes even when fit, with Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly all competing for places in what Arteta has assembled as one of the deepest midfields in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, captain Martin Odegaard has spoken openly about the physical toll last season took on him, despite Arsenal ultimately claiming the Premier League title. The Norwegian has made a sharp start to the 2026-27 campaign, already matching his goal tally from the entire previous season after netting the winner against Chelsea.

“Last season, I had many tough moments with injuries. It was tough for me,” Odegaard told Norwegian outlet VG. “I’m so happy to be on the pitch and to feel good and fit. There were several setbacks, and I played without feeling one hundred percent, but now I feel really good.”

Odegaard credited a strong World Cup tournament with helping him carry momentum into the new season, and suggested that winning the league has shifted the mentality inside the dressing room. “We feel different, and we feel stronger. You have to learn from what you experience. Winning the Premier League gives you a different kind of confidence,” he added.