Arsenal’s new Brazilian hailed as warrior while Arteta warned over striker usage
While David Raya lauds new signing Bruno Guimaraes as a ‘warrior’ after his decisive performance against Sunderland, manager Mikel Arteta has been handed a fresh warning for sidelining Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, sparking debate over Arsenal’s tactical balance as the Gunners chase another Premier League win.
Comments Sport Abby Meehan Senior Sports Writer 04:00, 16 Sep 2026 View 3 Images reported the story from the Emirates Stadium. The piece captures both on‑field praise and off‑field criticism within the same report.
Raya praised Guimaraes after the Brazilian’s strike helped preserve the Gunners’ Premier League winning record. The midfielder scored a stunning goal, then linked with Mikel Merino to set up Bukayo Saka, whose run earned a penalty against Sunderland. The ex‑Newcastle star made his thoughts clear about the Black Cats after his goal. Raya said the Brazilian’s physicality, maturity and technical gift make him a true warrior on the pitch.
After saving Enzo Le Fee’s penalty at the Stadium of Light, Guimaraes turned the tables, finding the net before laying the ball off to Saka for the decisive spot‑kick. Raya added that Guimaraes has suffered two minor injuries that limited his early appearances, but his contributions from the bench have been vital.
ARSENAL now travel to Brighton on Saturday, aiming to extend their winning streak in the Premier League. The north London side view the fixture as a chance to cement momentum built by recent performances.
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Arteta’s striker dilemma
Meanwhile, Arteta has been warned that neglecting Viktor Gyokeres could be a costly error. An ex‑Arsenal star claims the Swedish forward is being misused on the bench after a summer of transfer speculation.
Former striker Jeremie Aliadiere told LiveFootballTickets.com that Gyokeres needs patience, a strong mindset and belief in his quality to turn things around. He noted the striker was the club’s top scorer last season, delivered important goals and offers a different dimension up front.
Aliadiere argued that Arteta’s system, which favours possession and wide play, does not suit Gyokeres, who prefers quick, direct service. He pointed out that Mikel Arteta repeatedly reverts to Kai Havertz, whose style aligns with the team’s philosophy, making it hard to justify benching Gyokeres when Havertz performs well.
The juxtaposition of Raya’s glowing endorsement of Guimaraes and the criticism surrounding Gyokeres highlights the fine line Arsenal walk between rewarding emerging talent and maximising the output of established forwards. How Arteta balances these competing demands could shape the Gunners’ fortunes as they chase further Premier League success.