Guimarães deal may be another Arsenal set-piece masterstroke, data suggests

According to The Guardian, data indicates that Arsenal's £75m signing of Bruno Guimarães could prove to be another set-piece masterstroke. The Brazilian midfielder has a niche record: it's the most expensive transfer for a midfielder aged at least 28, surpassing Zinedine Zidane's move to Real Madrid 25 years ago, which would be worth far more today.

That record underscores how highly the Gunners rate the player, even though he will turn 30 before the end of next year. It is a transfer for the present rather than the future. The key reasons are his availability and versatility.

Guimarães rarely misses matches and can operate anywhere across midfield in Mikel Arteta's 4-3-3 system. That could be priceless given Declan Rice's management of long-term hamstring nerve pain and Martin Ødegaard having played only 40% of possible Premier League minutes last season.

The data also points to his set-piece prowess: he excels at winning free-kicks and conjuring results from them, making the investment look even smarter for a side that has already thrived in that area. Readers can find related match highlights on this site.