Cascarino: Guimaraes does what Rice and Odegaard 'never' did

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Bruno Guimaraes scored again as Arsenal beat Leeds United at the weekend, and according to Tony Cascarino, the Brazilian is bringing something to Arsenal's midfield that has been conspicuously missing: a willingness to actually shoot.

Guimaraes joined Arsenal this season following a productive spell at Newcastle United, where he built a reputation as one of the Premier League's more complete midfielders. Since arriving in north London, he has quickly shown why, contributing goals and giving Arsenal a different attacking dimension from midfield.

Scoring from midfield has not always been a strength of Arsenal's setup under Mikel Arteta, but Guimaraes' instinct to shoot from promising positions could change that. It is a trait that has not gone unnoticed by pundits assessing his early impact.

Cascarino contrasts Guimaraes with Rice and Odegaard

Speaking via the Metro, Cascarino explained that Arsenal's midfielders have previously shown reluctance to pull the trigger when chances arose, even naming specific players.

"They were passing the buck all the time. Declan Rice would have it, [Myles] Lewis-Skelly would have it, [Martin] Odegaard would have it and they never took the opportunity to shoot. It was really weird because they were in some great positions and didn't do it," Cascarino said.

"Guimaraes will do that, he'll shoot from the edge of the box. If it comes to him, he'll do that."

It is a pointed observation given the profiles of Rice and Odegaard, both of whom are regarded as key figures in Arsenal's midfield and have contributed significantly to the team's results in recent seasons. Cascarino's point is not that they lack quality, but that they have often opted to recycle possession rather than test the goalkeeper themselves.

A different kind of threat

Guimaraes' approach offers something distinct. Rather than looking for the extra pass, he appears comfortable taking responsibility from distance, adding unpredictability to Arsenal's attacking play and giving opponents another problem to deal with beyond the usual outlets through Bukayo Saka or the forward line.

For a team that has sometimes been accused of being too methodical in the final third, having a midfielder willing to shoot on sight could prove a useful wrinkle. If Guimaraes continues to find the net at the rate he has started, it may force a rethink of how Arsenal approach those half chances from midfield positions.

With the season still unfolding, Guimaraes' early goal returns and his willingness to shoot look set to remain a talking point as Arsenal continue to search for different ways to break down well organised defences.