Bruno Guimaraes provided two assists for Brazil’s two goals against Japan on Saturday, but Vinicius Junior deserves almost all of the credit.
Bruno Guimaraes and Gabriel Magalhaes were both named in the starting lineup for Brazil’s friendly match against Japan on Saturday, but the Arsenal duo saw their team get off to a terrible start by going 2-0 down within 20 minutes.
The team worked to get back into the game, and they pulled one back in the 33rd minute through summer Arsenal target Vinicius Junior.
Bruno had picked up the ball on the right touchline, and he played a short pass inside to Vinicius. With no warning, the Real Madrid winger unleashed a shot into the top corner from distance for 2-1.
If Bruno’s first-half assist had come easily, his next one was even more straightforward. The Arsenal midfielder played a short corner to Vinicius, who cut inside his man and powered a shot in off both posts for 2-2.
Unfortunately, Brazil let the game slip away in injury time, conceding a scrappy goal after an initial deflected shot fell to Tatsuhiro Sakamoto to finish.
Though neither of Bruno’s assists were particularly impressive, he did create six chances on the day, so he perhaps earned his luck.
The assists will go down on his record just the same either way. He now has two goals and six assists for Brazil in his last 10 appearances, including four assists at the World Cup.
- Arsenal international provides 2 assists for BrazilBruno Guimaraes provided two assists for Brazil’s two goals against Japan on Saturday, but Vinicius Junior deserves almost all of the credit.
- Arsenal 32yo plays in friendly for unofficial national teamArsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga featured in a friendly match for the Basque Country against Venezuela on Saturday, helping them to a 1-0 win.
- Arsenal star plays through illness for national teamMartin Odegaard was up all night feeling unwell before Norway’s match against Wales on Saturday, but he went on to play 90 minutes anyway.
- Arsenal international extends record run with 2 more goalsViktor Gyokeres extended his own record by scoring in yet another Nations League match on Saturday, netting a brace of penalties in a 3-2 Sweden win.
- Arsenal learn 3rd-round FA Youth Cup drawThe Arsenal u18s have learned their opponents for their first game of the 2026/27 FA Youth Cup, to be played over the next month.