Bruno Guimaraes says he wants to give Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta “a selection headache” after scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 comeback victory over Leeds United.
Arsenal fell behind in the sixth round of the Premier League before recovering at home to secure three points. Guimaraes, who came off the bench, scored during the second half and was named Man of the Match despite playing for only thirty minutes.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle, the midfielder said the result showed Arsenal had responded strongly following their previous match.
“It feels incredible,” Guimaraes said. “After the last game, we all knew what kind of performance we needed to deliver, and today we showed strong character to bounce back.
“To be honest, this was my first official home match, and it truly felt amazing. Scoring an important goal, helping the team secure three vital points, and ultimately winning I’m very happy.”
The goal was Guimaraes’ second for Arsenal, with both strikes coming as a substitute and proving decisive. His first goal at Emirates Stadium also arrived in a match Arsenal had to turn around.
“For me, the most important thing is to always give my best whenever I step onto the pitch, work hard, and give the coach a bit of a selection headache when it comes to picking the team,” he said.
“I’m really happy to score my first goal at the Emirates Stadium, and it was a very important one. We want to be champions again, so getting three points is always crucial.”
Guimaraes started Arsenal’s previous Premier League fixture against Brighton. After that match, he admitted that his own display and the team’s performance had not been good enough, and he acknowledged that he was determined to respond against Leeds United.
“I think so,” he said when asked whether he had been particularly keen to prove himself. “I believe I’ve proven my ability in the Premier League over the past five years, but this is a new challenge for me now.
“Getting playing opportunities is always very important. As I said, the main thing is to get on the pitch and perform at my best. I’m very happy with how I played today.”
Arsenal are the reigning Premier League champions, and Guimaraes stressed the importance of avoiding dropped points in a closely fought competition.
“We know the Premier League is very competitive, and the gap between teams is very small,” he said. “Leeds United is a very good team, so it’s always going to be a tough match. I’m glad we got the three points in the end.
“But as I said, the league is so competitive that every three points is vital for us.”
Asked about receiving the Man of the Match award, Guimaraes added: “I’m really happy to wear the Arsenal shirt. We must keep working hard. Thank you.”