adminBruno Guimaraes reportedly spent the night at the home of his former Newcastle United teammate Joelinton after producing a stunning performance against Sunderland for Arsenal.
The Brazilian midfielder returned to the North East in dramatic fashion following his summer move from Newcastle to Arsenal, scoring a spectacular goal in the Gunners’ 2-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Guimaraes later spent time at Joelinton’s home as he reunited with his former Newcastle teammate. The pair developed a close friendship during their time together at St James’ Park, making the reported reunion particularly notable.
Guimaraes had entered the Sunderland clash from the substitutes’ bench at half-time, replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly. Just 13 minutes after coming onto the pitch, he produced one of the standout moments of the match.
The 28-year-old collected the ball outside the Sunderland penalty area before curling a superb effort into the top corner, with the shot going in off the underside of the crossbar.
The goal was Guimaraes’ first for Arsenal and arrived just two minutes after David Raya had saved Enzo Le Fée’s penalty for Sunderland.
It was also a particularly significant moment because of Guimaraes’ Newcastle connections.
The midfielder had been heavily booed by Sunderland supporters throughout the match because of his previous role at Newcastle, with the rivalry between the two North East clubs adding an extra layer of emotion to his return to the region.
After scoring, Guimaraes celebrated provocatively in front of the home supporters, cupping his ears as the Sunderland crowd reacted angrily.
He later continued the banter on social media, while also sharing a post from Joelinton that referenced his continued affection for Newcastle and the North East. TalkSPORT reported that Guimaraes posted a message referencing the insults he had received from Sunderland supporters and also shared Joelinton’s tribute.
Despite the rivalry, Guimaraes has repeatedly spoken positively about his time at Newcastle.
Following the Arsenal victory, he acknowledged that his spell at St James’ Park had been an important part of his career, while making it clear that he was now focused on establishing himself at Arsenal.
“Everyone knows my past. I had an amazing history at Newcastle but now I’m trying to create a new history here,” Guimaraes said after the game.
His comments helped explain why the reported reunion with Joelinton was not entirely surprising.
The two Brazilians shared the Newcastle dressing room and developed a strong relationship during their time together. Their friendship has continued despite Guimaraes leaving the club for Arsenal during the summer.
The reported overnight stay therefore offered another glimpse into the personal bond that remains between the pair.
Guimaraes’ move to Arsenal had initially been complicated by injuries. He had made only a handful of appearances before the Sunderland fixture, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gradually introducing him into the team.
But his performance at the Stadium of Light provided a major reminder of what the midfielder can offer.
Coming off the bench, he changed the momentum of the match with his quality in midfield and produced the decisive goal at a crucial moment.
The victory was particularly important for Arsenal because Sunderland had been given an opportunity to take the lead when Le Fée stepped up for a second-half penalty.
Raya produced an outstanding save to deny the Sunderland midfielder, and only 121 seconds later Guimaraes struck at the other end.
Bukayo Saka subsequently sealed the result with a stoppage-time penalty after Reinildo Mandava was sent off for bringing him down inside the box.
For Sunderland, the defeat was painful not only because of the result but also because their former local rival had delivered the crucial blow.
For Guimaraes, however, it was the perfect way to announce himself as an Arsenal player in a stadium where his Newcastle history guaranteed a hostile reception.
His reported visit to Joelinton’s home after the match added an intriguing final chapter to the weekend.
The Brazilian may now be wearing Arsenal colours, but his relationship with his former Newcastle teammate remains strong.
As Guimaraes begins his new chapter in north London, his reported reunion with Joelinton shows that leaving Newcastle has not erased the friendships he built during his time on Tyneside.
And after scoring his first Arsenal goal in spectacular fashion against Sunderland, the Brazilian midfielder certainly gave himself — and his former teammate — plenty to celebrate.
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