After the sleepless nights, the glory nights. Bruno Guimaraes shed tears before joining Arsenal, severing a bond with a club where he made history. Yet he did so for occasions like Wednesday’s draw with Bayern Munich. The man who made history as the first Newcastle captain for seven decades to lift a major domestic trophy found himself at the centre of historical comparisons at the Allianz Arena. Manuel Neuer’s magnificent save to keep out Guimaraes’ header had shades of Gordon Banks and Pele. “True, true,” the midfielder said; if every Brazilian wants to be bracketed with Pele, perhaps that is not their ideal way.

In any case, Guimaraes is spoken of more in the same sentence as Declan Rice. Theirs has become a hate-love relationship. The competitive Brazilian could be a bête noire for Arsenal in his days in black and white. Now they find much to like about him as Rice has gone from rival to sidekick. “We were playing against each other: I was not nice to him, he was not nice to me,” Guimaraes recalled. “But now we are nice to each other. He is an unbelievable player and an unbelievable guy. He has been trying to help me a lot since my first day at the club.”

They give Mikel Arteta options with their versatility. “I think he can play, like me, as a No 6, No 8 or No 10, everywhere in the midfield. I think the manager is still trying to get the best version of ourselves.” In the Allianz Arena, Guimaraes said: “I played more as a No 6, he played more as a No 8.”

As such, Rice got forward to score Arsenal’s equaliser. A trio is completed by the captain Martin Odegaard; Guimaraes marvelled at the Norwegian’s “unbelievable” pass to allow Eberechi Eze to open the scoring.

For Newcastle supporters, however, the definitive midfield trio to feature Guimaraes also included Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. They were the Carabao Cup-winning triumvirate, the heart of Eddie Howe’s side. Yet that team was consigned to the past: Alexander Isak’s departure in 2025 marked a shift. Anthony Gordon and Tonali had gone last summer even before Guimaraes informed Newcastle he wanted to join Arsenal. Howe stood down soon after.

“It was not just hard to tell Eddie, but to tell the owners, my teammates,” said Guimaraes. “But I think the club went to a new rotation, a lot of players left as well. The gaffer left as well. It was tough, because my connection with the club was unbelievable. When I said bye to the lads, I was crying. They were crying as well, because we were a family there.

“It was very difficult for me because I had an amazing relationship with everyone at Newcastle. I did my best for the club. I think I was there for almost five years and inside of me, I just wanted a new challenge.

“I lost many, many nights of sleep because it was difficult for me, for my family. But now I am here, I am just trying to give my best for Arsenal. I think I did great for Newcastle. We won a trophy after 70 years. We got into the Champions League twice. We got to two finals. I think I did what I could for the club.”

The historic nature of those achievements explain why a man from Rio de Janeiro became idolised on Tyneside. “I never felt so loved like the way I was at Newcastle,” added the midfielder. “I hope I can have the same love here at Arsenal.”

It will take more than a Carabao Cup win to earn that. “We want to win everything possible,” said Guimaraes. “We don’t accept a draw here [at Bayern]. We have a top manager with a top mentality.” And, he noted, an obsessive streak. “He is addicted to videos,” he said of Arteta.

Though perhaps video analysis was not required to buy Guimaraes, given the number of times he excelled in Newcastle’s wins against Arsenal. But since swapping the north-east for north London, he has begun well. An opener against Sunderland and a winner against Leeds were signs he can be a catalyst. Even though he can anchor the midfield, he also has an eye for goal.

He thought he had his third in Arsenal colours in the Allianz Arena. He and Rice combined again, albeit from a corner. “Neuer saved my header,” rued Guimaraes. “It was an unbelievable save. I was already celebrating and then he pulled off a miracle. I asked him after the game: ‘How did you manage to save that?’ He said: ‘I don’t know. I just saved it.’” He has gone from tears on Tyneside to the miracle of Munich.