Bruno’s Sunderland goal was bittersweet, but we’ll love him again
Bruno Guimarães scoring a screamer against Sunderland before reminding them how small they are should be a fairly straightforward thing to enjoy. The Arsenal shirt complicates matters somewhat.
His 58th-minute opener in Saturday’s 2-0 win flew into the top corner from around 25 yards. A tremendous strike, and a particularly satisfying place to produce it.
Then came the celebration. That little gap between finger and thumb looked like a message about Sunderland’s size, before the trademark cupping of his ears towards the home support.
He carried the wind-up onto Instagram afterwards, posting “THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE!” alongside the celebration pictures. He even made himself the punchline with the sign-off: “THE FAT RAT WISHES YOU A NICE WEEKEND”.
It was hard not to laugh. Whatever else has changed, he clearly hasn’t lost his appetite for winding up the Mackems.
What reception will Bruno get at St James’ Park?
I expect a mixed one. His move to Arsenal is barely a month old, and returning to take points off Newcastle will be a different matter altogether.
There will be appreciation for what he achieved here, but I’d be surprised if there weren’t boos too. He was our captain, leaving during a summer when we could have done with him helping us through the changes. That is harder to accept than an ordinary transfer.
The strength of his connection with Newcastle also made the departure hurt more. It’s difficult to watch someone who seemed so invested in the club become part of another Premier League side’s plans.
Personally, I want Newcastle to beat Arsenal and Bruno to have a miserable afternoon when he returns. Enjoying his antics at Sunderland doesn’t mean I’ve developed any interest in seeing him or his new club now succeed.
But I wouldn’t want that afternoon’s reception to become the final verdict on his time here.
Wembley will matter long after this
Bruno captained Newcastle to the 2025 Carabao Cup, ending our 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy. That is an enormous part of his legacy, and moving to Arsenal cannot erase it.
There may always be some regret over what else he could have achieved with us. Staying and leading Newcastle to further success would have given him an even greater place in our history. He still helped deliver something we had waited generations to celebrate.
I also believe he loves Newcastle. In his farewell message, he said: “I fell in love with this place. I really mean that.”
I believe him. Being disappointed in his decision doesn’t require us to dismiss everything he felt while he was here.
My feeling is that once he leaves the Premier League, we’ll be able to love him properly again. It will be easier when his performances aren’t helping a side we want Newcastle to catch, and when remembering his best moments doesn’t immediately bring his next Arsenal appearance to mind.
By the time he retires, I have no doubt he’ll be welcomed back with open arms. Quite honestly, you could count on one hand the former Newcastle players who wouldn’t be.
Bruno belongs among those we’ll be delighted to see again. We might just need him to stop playing for Arsenal first.
