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Arsenal summer signing Bruno Guimaraes has confirmed he is banned from taking set pieces by Mikel Arteta, weeks after completing a £75million move from Newcastle United. The Brazilian was one of the most trusted set-piece deliverers at St James’ Park, regularly stepping up to take corners and free-kicks. That role has been put on hold in north London.
“I’m still getting used to Arsenal’s set piece routines,” Guimaraes said on the Men In Blazers podcast. “There’s a lot to learn. We’re training a lot, almost every day for set pieces.”
Asked whether Arteta was letting him take corners yet, the 28-year-old replied with a smile:
“Not yet, not yet.”
The reasoning is clear when you look at the numbers. Arsenal scored 25 Premier League goals from set pieces, excluding penalties, last season. Ten of Declan Rice’s 20 top-flight assists for the club came from corners or free kicks. These are not spontaneous deliveries; they are precisely choreographed sequences that demand full familiarity before a new participant is trusted with the ball.
Guimaraes is no stranger to set-piece production. He scored directly from a corner in Newcastle‘s 2-1 win over Burnley last season. The quality is not in question. The system is.
The Brazilian made his Arsenal debut in the Community Shield, contributing as the Gunners beat Manchester City 3-0. He was absent from the squad for the 3-0 Premier League opener against Coventry City, after picking up a minor groin strain in training.
“He had a slight tension in his groin, he hasn’t done a pre-season,” Arteta said. “He had only four or five days before that game [Community Shield]. It is a lot of new stuff for him as well, and we need to take it bit-by-bit.”
The midfield partnership with Rice is the one Arsenal fans are most focused on. Guimaraes has faced Rice as an opponent across multiple Premier League seasons and is under no illusions about what the England international brings.
“Rice has a little bit of everything, he’s so good with the ball but he defends like a lion… his presence in the midfield is unbelievable,” Guimaraes said. “It was very difficult playing against him and now I can finally play with him. I hope we can be very successful together.”
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Once Guimaraes is fully integrated into Arsenal’s system, his delivery ability will be a welcome addition to an already potent set-piece operation. For now, he is learning the blueprint. Follow TipsGG for ongoing coverage of Arsenal’s 2026/27 season.