Guimaraes hands Vinicius penalty to lift spirits as Arsenal chase £40m Brazilian

Bruno Guimaraes gave up Brazil’s 80th-minute penalty to Vinicius Junior during Tuesday’s 4-2 friendly win over Australia, a selfless act the Arsenal midfielder said was driven entirely by his Real Madrid teammate’s need for a confidence boost amid a recent goal drought.

With Brazil leading 3-2 and regular taker Raphinha already off the pitch, Guimaraes was next in line to step up. Instead, he handed the ball to Vinicius, who converted to make it 4-2 and visibly lift his mood.

“Bruno Guimaraes is our penalty taker when Raphinha isn’t playing, and I thought he’d want to take it,” Vinicius said after the match. “But he knows that I need a bit of confidence right now, in this moment. My teammates know I need some confidence now. Losing a World Cup is hard and difficult to accept, and the comeback is never easy.”

Guimaraes confirmed the reasoning, framing it as a reflection of the squad’s collective spirit. “After the penalty incident, many things came to light. But here in the national team, we have no vanity whatsoever,” he said. “In the World Cup, Ancelotti told me to take the penalty. Today, he told Vini to take it. Vini really needed to score a goal. He took it very well. We want what’s best for Brazil.”

Vinicius had been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal during the summer transfer window before signing a contract extension with Real Madrid. Guimaraes, by contrast, completed his switch to the Emirates this summer and has quickly established himself as a key figure both for the club and the national team.

On the domestic front, Arsenal head into the international break having suffered their first defeat of the 2026/27 season — a 3-0 loss to Brighton — after winning seven consecutive games across all competitions. Manager Mikel Arteta will be eager to have his players return fit, with Leeds United due at the Emirates Stadium on October 10.

One concern has already emerged: Kai Havertz returned early from Germany’s camp with a minor muscle strain. Arsenal had 17 players called up across various international squads for the current break.

Separately, the club are reported to be pursuing a £40m-rated Brazilian midfielder, potentially adding further South American depth to a squad that already includes Guimaraes.