Arsenal reportedly first looked at signing another Newcastle United player before ultimately getting a deal done for Bruno Guimaraes.Earlier in the summer, it seems the Gunners were also keen on signing Sandro Tonali from the Magpies.However, they were put off by his £100m asking price, according to the Athletic, and the Italy international ended up moving to Tottenham instead.Tonali and Guimaraes were both world class performers for Newcastle, and it will be a big blow for the club to lose two such important players in one window.It now leaves them requiring a total rebuild of their midfield, with Guimaraes’ move to Arsenal officially confirmed today.Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali – who got the better player?Arsenal fans will be delighted with the signing of Guimaraes, with the Brazil international arguably the move proven and experienced player, whilst also costing less money.Still, Spurs supporters will likely feel they got the younger and more long-term investment with Tonali, so who is actually better?See below for a stats comparison courtesy of DataMB, with some of the differences in their qualities perhaps highlighting why both clubs can be happy with their business…Bruno Guimaraes vs Sandro Tonali stats comparison (DataMB)Guimaraes has the superior stats when it comes to passing, particularly his forward passing, which is something Arsenal were missing from their midfield last season.Tonali, meanwhile, has the better defensive stats, and that could be useful for a Tottenham side who need to toughen up a bit after finishing 17th in the table in back-to-back seasons.Arsenal, by contrast, will want someone who can pick out their attacking players more quickly and with more accuracy, helping them build on an otherwise solid side that won the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final in 2025/26.More Stories / Latest NewsRomano hints Liverpool could yet add new right back to Araujo moveAug 8 2026, 14:00The £100m star Arsenal wanted before turning to Bruno Guimaraes signingAug 8 2026, 13:59“One of the toughest decisions of my life” – Bruno Guimaraes sends heartfelt message to Newcastle fansAug 8 2026, 13:31Both are fine players, but they serve different purposes, and arrive at clubs currently in very different places.THFC also signed Mateus Fernandes, so will hope they have two new midfield signings to give them a bit of everything in the middle of the park.The post The £100m star Arsenal wanted before turning to Bruno Guimaraes signing appeared first on CaughtOffside.