It’s safe to say that if Arsenal sign Bruno Guimaraes then they are drastically improving the first-team squad.
Guimaraes would arrive as a safe bet to drop instantly into the team and as his performances for Brazil and Newcastle have shown in recent years, he’s more than capable.
Declan Rice is one likely to partner Guimaraes in the middle, while Martin Odegaard would be expected by most to fill the third slot in midfield.
However, while Guimaraes obviously boosts the Arsenal squad, there will be one man in particular who might be feeling a bit perplexed.
Arsenal fans, what was your instant reaction when you heard Granit Xhaka wants to join Chelsea?
Myles Lewis-Skelly will be annoyed by Arsenal’s bid for Bruno Guimaraes
At the end of last season, we all got a glimpse of just how good Myles Lewis-Skelly can be.
Deployed in midfield by Mikel Arteta, Lewis-Skelly took his chance with open arms and ended up finishing the season as one of Arsenal’s best players.
However, while Lewis-Skelly will have known reinforcements were likely this summer, he will have every right to be baffled by the quality of player the Gunners are going for.
Make no mistake about it, Arsenal are not trying to sign Bruno Guimaraes for him to sit on the bench.
Nor, in fact, will the player have any interest himself in making the move if he isn’t to be a first-choice.
For Lewis-Skelly, you can’t help but think this will represent a make or break moment in his Arsenal career.
After finally breaking into the first XI in a position many inside the club have suggested he can dominate in for years to come, he could now find himself once again pushed aside for a new face.
Like other Arsenal youngsters of recent times, it will be interesting to see just how he reacts.
He could follow the path of an Emile Smith Rowe or Folarin Balogun, who are among a number to move on and build their careers elsewhere.
The other option, of course, is ‘MLS’ plays that well in the summer and going into next season that Mikel Arteta simply cannot drop him.
Either way, it feels like Lewis-Skelly is set to face a challenge in the Arsenal squad he hasn’t yet come up against.
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