Bruno Guimaraes, Arsenal’s massive £75 million acquisition, didn’t even make the squad for the Premier League opener against Coventry City on Friday. That’s right, the club’s shiny new midfielder is already sidelined with a groin injury, and it’s a brutal start to the season.
Groin Trouble Strikes After One Game
The Brazilian powerhouse made his first appearance for the Gunners just last Sunday, starting their 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City. But get this: he suffered a knock and had to be pulled at half-time, with Declan Rice taking his spot. Head coach Mikel Arteta confirmed the severity, saying, “He had a slight tension in his groin. He hasn’t done a preseason, he only had four or five days before that game, and we had to take him out. It’s a lot of new stuff for him as well. We need to take it bit by bit.” It sounds like they pushed him too fast, too soon. Myles Lewis-Skelly ended up slotting into midfield alongside Rice against Coventry, with Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi on the bench. Arteta had been playing coy on Thursday, just saying, “Let’s see how he is. He’s evolving really well, but let’s see for tomorrow.” Well, “tomorrow” meant no Bruno.
An Injury List and New Faces
Guimaraes isn’t the only one missing, either. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were both absent from the squad, and the club’s reportedly trying to offload them before the transfer window slams shut on September 1. On top of that, crucial defenders Jurrien Timber (groin problem) and William Saliba (back injury) are still out. That’s a huge hit to the backline! To bolster the defense, Arsenal just confirmed they signed Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa for £51 million on a four-year deal. Konsa is hyped, too, saying, “I’m super excited. It’s a privilege to be here and can’t wait to get started. I want to keep winning, I’m hungry to win and that’s what I’m here for. It’s a proud moment for me and my family to play for one of the best teams in the world.”
So, the Premier League season kicks off with a new £75 million star on the shelf and other key players missing. Konsa could be looking at an immediate debut, possibly against his old club, which would be a wild way to start his Arsenal career. They need him, bad, with all these injuries already piling up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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