Bruno Guimaraes Awaits Premier League Debut for Arsenal

Bruno Guimaraes will have to wait a little longer for his full Premier League take-off in an Arsenal shirt.

The £75million summer signing from Newcastle starts on the bench again tonight as Mikel Arteta’s side face Sunderland, with the Brazilian still being eased into life in north London after a stop-start opening spell disrupted by minor injuries.

He showed a glimpse of what he can offer with a substitute appearance in the Champions League away to Napoli in midweek. Arteta has decided not to accelerate the process just yet, keeping him among the substitutes on his return to Wearside. If he does step onto the pitch at the Stadium of Light, the former Newcastle captain can expect a fierce reaction from the home crowd, who have not forgotten his role on the other side of the Tyne–Wear divide.

Arteta does shake up his starting XI in other areas. Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz are both restored to the lineup after coming off the bench in the 1-0 league phase win in Naples on Wednesday night, rewarded for their impact in Italy with starting roles on domestic duty.

There is another significant name back on a Premier League teamsheet for Arsenal. Jurrien Timber is included in a top-flight matchday squad for the first time since suffering injury in March. The defender has steadily increased his workload in recent weeks and travelled with the group to Italy in midweek, though he did not make the squad against Napoli. Tonight marks an important step in his return.

Not everyone is available. Mosquera remains out, missing a third straight game after picking up a muscle problem in the victory over Aston Villa. At the back, Arsenal are still without William Saliba, who faces an extended spell on the sidelines. The centre-back aggravated an ongoing back issue while on World Cup duty with France earlier in the summer, but has at least avoided surgery.

Arteta’s bench is strong, the atmosphere in Sunderland will be unforgiving, and Guimaraes waits, again, for the moment that finally ignites his Arsenal career.