Bruno Guimaraes And Gabriel Discover They’re Best Friends Now They’re On The Same Team

Bruno Guimarães and Gabriel Magalhães appear to have settled their differences remarkably quickly following the midfielder’s £75million move from Newcastle United to Arsenal.

The two Brazilians had been involved in a number of heated exchanges during meetings between Arsenal and Newcastle, with Guimarães’ combative approach regularly bringing him into close contact with players he would eventually join at the Emirates.

Gabriel was among those with whom relations occasionally became strained. Guimarães revealed after completing his transfer that the Arsenal defender had already contacted him about their previous encounters, while Declan Rice sent a similar message asking his new teammate for an end to the fighting now they were playing for the same club.

Their first days together suggest the necessary adjustments have been made.

Following Arsenal’s 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City, Gabriel was filmed approaching Guimarães during the celebrations and asking: “Best friends now, eh?”

Guimarães agreed, completing a fairly rapid change in circumstances for two players who had previously been more accustomed to confronting each other during Arsenal-Newcastle matches.

The transfer means Gabriel will now defend behind Guimarães rather than against him, while the former Newcastle captain has gone from being one of Arsenal’s more persistent midfield opponents to part of Mikel Arteta’s squad.

There was no particular reason for their previous rivalry to survive the change.

It mostly required them to start wearing the same shirt.