Bruno Guimaraes doubtful for Coventry clash as Arteta faces 'difficult' transfer decisions

[p]Brazil midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bruno-guimaraes/xtyKanzU/"]Bruno[/a] joined from Newcastle United this month for a ‌fee put at £75 million by British media. The 28-year-old ‌applied ice to his leg after he came off in Sunday's Community Shield ‌win over Manchester City.[/p][p][b]"It's evolving well, but let's see,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arteta-mikel/lAbHYaQM/"]Arteta[/a] told ‌reporters on Thursday about Bruno's fitness problem.[/p][p]Injuries threatened [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a]'s title charge last term as they missed key players at crucial times, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/havertz-kai/rH8BZWiI/"]Kai Havertz[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/odegaard-martin/ID32TGhp/"]Martin Odegaard[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gabriel-jesus/viMb6g9n/"]‌Gabriel Jesus[/a] and others absent for long periods.[/p][p][b]"The ⁠more dominant we are, the bigger ‌the margins, the better... we need to improve the availability of the squad ​in certain areas in order for those margins to become much bigger,"[/b] Arteta said.[/p][p]Arsenal, third on the all-time list with ​14 English top-flight titles, have never retained the Premier League trophy, although they won three championships in a row back in the 1930s, ⁠but Arteta said this ​season feels different.[/p][image alt="Arsenal's opening Premier League matches" id="aa875974-3b07-4aef-8d09-77e7fdb8a11d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="1312a7b0-0395-44e9-9a95-264635b7f890" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]"I feel good. Different. Hopefully better. More excited than ever, hungrier than ever... I have no question that our players have the desire. Now it's something we have to do daily," he said.[/p][h2]'Difficult' transfer decisions to make[/h2][p]Arteta said Arsenal were trying to reinforce their defensive options amid media reports saying they have agreed a £51 million deal with Aston Villa to sign England centre-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/konsa-ezri/4CQLQWTa/"]Ezri Konsa[/a].[/p][p][b]"When we're ready to announce something, we'll let you know,"[/b] the Spaniard added.[/p][p]Arteta also put to bed reports linking the versatile [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewis-skelly-myles/bDeyKrHT/"]Myles Lewis-Skelly[/a] with a move away from Arsenal, saying he was "100% sure" that the 19-year-old would remain at the club.[/p][embed guid="5b70b40d-b41d-46c2-8556-49cd09b0661b" url="https://x.com/David_Ornstein/status/2090071880707264641" social-type="twitter" /][p]But the manager acknowledged that some players might ‌have to leave, amid speculation that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinelli/dITe5M88/"]Gabriel Martinelli[/a], Gabriel Jesus and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nwaneri-ethan/lxyovn2o/"]Ethan ​Nwaneri[/a] could depart.[/p][p][b]"It's a really, really tough moment... but you ‌have to face it with a real honesty and transparency," [/b]he said.[/p][p]"We all know everything has a start and an end. When it ends, our job and duty is to do it in the best possible way, with respect and admiration for the ⁠player and the relationship.[/p][p][b]"But ⁠at the end, we need ‌to make difficult decisions."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/coventry-GOvB22xg/?mid=2q2NhX43"]Follow the Premier League's opening match here![/a][/b][/p][infobox id="02b45e73-9abc-454d-882a-650a1a621f7d" /]