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No Writer
Aug 5
Man in court charged with murder after death of girl, 9, found injured on Arbroath industrial estate

Police Scotland said officers were called to Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath at about 12.02am on Monday after Minnie Merriman was discovered. The youngster was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where she later died. Christopher Rice, 35, was arrested and charged in connection with her death. The force previously confirmed the pair were "known" to each other and other members of the family, from West Yorkshire, had been camping in the area. Rice appeared before Forfar Sheriff Court on Wednesday, where he made no plea to the single charge of murder. The suspect, of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, was remanded in custody and is due back in the dock within the next eight days. Police Scotland earlier said the other members of the family are being supported by specialist officers. In a statement released through the force, Minnie's family said: "We are devastated with the loss of our beloved, absolutely incredible, beautiful and brave Minnie Moo. "Our family asks that our privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time." Read more from Sky News:Boxer appears in court after woman's body found in suitcaseMan jailed for trying to murder estranged wife Detective Inspector Mike Ness, of the major investigation team, said inquiries into the incident remain ongoing. He said: "Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by these events, especially Minnie's family. "A police presence will remain in the area while our inquiries continue. "Anyone with any concerns, or information, should approach these officers or contact Police Scotland on 101." It is understood West Yorkshire Police is supporting Police Scotland's investigation.

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No Writer
Aug 5
Star Wars dubbed into Welsh for first time

A new version of the 1977 film – titled Star Wars: Gobaith Newydd – is set to be broadcast on the Welsh-language TV channel S4C from Christmas Day onwards to celebrate the saga's 50th anniversary next year. The announcement was made at the National Eisteddfod, the largest cultural festival in Wales. The film, directed by Ellyn Stern and produced by Lucasfilm and Disney in collaboration with S4C and the Welsh government, features the voices of several well-known Welsh actors, including Primetime Emmy winner Matthew Rhys as Han Solo and Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Aimee-Ffion Edwards, perhaps best known for her roles in Peaky Blinders and Slow Horses, voices Princess Leia, while Osian Morgan, who has appeared in TV shows such as Waterloo Road and Emmerdale, is Luke Skywalker. Mark Lewis Jones, who appeared in 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi – the second film in the franchise's so-called sequel trilogy – takes on the role of Darth Vader. 'A beautiful lyrical language' Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth hailed Star Wars as "one of the most influential films of my childhood" and insisted the film's appeal "shows no sign of waning, captivating audiences to this day". Mr ap Iorwerth said: "To see a Welsh language version of this iconic film, using the talents of some of our best actors, is fantastic. We already produce world-class TV and film here in Wales, and I'm really looking forward to seeing Star Wars in Welsh later this year." Lucasfilm co-president Lynwen Brennan, who was born and raised in Wales, said the country had a "rich history of storytelling and a beautiful lyrical language". Ms Brennan said she was "so thankful" Star Wars was being translated into Welsh, adding: "Welsh speakers will finally be able to enjoy the film in our native language, and my hope is that it will have the same emotional impact as if you were watching the film again for the first time." Last year, Wales's government set a target of having one million Welsh speakers by 2050. It came after figures from the latest census in 2021 showed a fall in the number of people who could speak the language compared to a decade earlier. An estimated 538,000 people in Wales – or 17.8% of the population – said they could speak Welsh, compared to 562,000 in 2011 (or 19% of the population). Read more from Sky News:Stars attend funeral of Oscar-winning musicianAriana Grande to take a break from public life Long-standing link to sci-fi series Wales has a long-standing connection to the Star Wars franchise going back decades. In 1979, a full-size Millennium Falcon – the iconic starship primarily piloted by Harrison Ford's Han Solo and the Wookie Chewbacca in the original trilogy – was built at Pembroke Dock for the 1980 sequel Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Meanwhile, scenes from the Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte, as well as Lucasfilm's 1988 film Willow – and the 2022 sequel TV series of the same name – were shot on location in Wales.

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Mollie Malone, home news correspondent
Aug 4
Burnham intervenes on prisons crisis - and risks mistakes being made

Andy Burnham has blocked cuts to sentences – also known as early release – for rape and serious child sex and grooming offences, which will be welcome news to many. Politics Hub: Follow the latest Others, though, will be left wondering: what about me, or my case? Why is my perpetrator, some of them who will be in prison for really serious crimes, able to be freed early and not others? PC Andrew Harper's widow, Lissie, has called the announced review changes "disgusting" and an "utter betrayal". Thames Valley Police Federation, the force where PC Harper served, said they are "outraged that the justice secretary and the prime minister have decided that killing a police officer in the execution of their duty is somehow less serious than other offences deemed too dangerous for early release". The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, has said the government are putting "lives at risk" by not excluding domestic abuse perpetrators in the way that rape offenders and others are. "While this will be well received by some victims, most will not fall within those categories, and exclusions alone cannot guarantee victim or public safety," said Claire Waxman, the Victims Commissioner. The problem is, much of this is about pragmatism and politics. There is a perception that the general public don't care about prisons until it's a conversation about public safety and perceived injustice. This is exactly that. How did we get here? The latest row over this policy happened only days after Burnham became prime minister. He probably felt he had little option but to look again – ironically at plans which were made law under Sir Keir Starmer's government earlier this year, following an independent review of sentencing policy. Burnham has long been a critic of how previous governments have failed victims of injustice or covered up scandals. But he will also have been told that scrapping the plans altogether wasn't an option because of prison overcrowding. The male prison estate is operating at around 97% capacity still, even after numerous "emergency" or "temporary" measures, releasing tens of thousands of inmates early, under successive governments. One prison governor told me their usual "summer lull", as courts start to shut down for August, isn't happening this year. "What does this do to capacity by Christmas?" they asked. Remember, in 2024 there were just 100 free spaces left across England and Wales. Police custody suites were regularly used as alternative cells. 'A risk mistakes will be made' But there are fears too that "there is a risk mistakes will be made", according to one prison service source, with fast turnaround sentence recalculations (again) by an already stretched service. The first tranche of releases wasn't due until 2 September, but the prison and probation service had a while to plan for that date. It's now been delayed until 1 October, but with new exclusions, which could become complicated. Someone could be serving a sentence for varying offences, and things could be missed, is the worry. Probation will now only have around six weeks for release planning, once the sentences have been recalculated. Read more from Sky News:Woman who stole £300k from pensioner is jailedMan jailed after falsely claiming electric car was out of control A reminder – the Sentencing Act 2026, which became law earlier this year, meant prisoners serving standard sentences in England and Wales could be freed after serving a third of their sentence, rather than half, if they didn't break prison rules or commit further offences in jail. The rest would be spent on supervision in the community, using electronic tagging. More serious criminals, including those convicted of sexual and violent crimes, would have been eligible for release from prison after serving half of their sentence, rather than two-thirds, as is typically the case at the moment. 'Not the end of the conversation' This announced review now excludes inmates serving sentences for crimes like rape and grooming offences. But people who are in prison for a crime such as manslaughter can in theory still be released after serving half of their sentence. What this has to be about is human consequences and confidence in the justice system. For victims of rape, that's historically been a huge hurdle. The prospect that their demands are being listened to with these changes will be something. But even a lawyer representing abuse and grooming victims – the perceived beneficiaries of the review – tells me: "This should not mark the end of the conversation." "Victims of other serious violent offences also deserve confidence that sentences imposed by the courts will be served as intended," they said. This issue has troubled governments for years now. Burnham will be viewed by some as a new PM who acted decisively and who cares about victims and injustices. But what's already clear is that the outcome of this review is being seen by others as an injustice in itself.

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No Writer
Aug 5
Bruno Guimaraes transfer news: Arsenal agree £75m fee for Newcastle midfielder

He has been given permission to travel for a medical. Guimaraes told Newcastle bosses earlier this summer that he wanted to join Arsenal if a suitable offer arrived. Where would Guimaraes fit in at Arsenal?Transfer Centre LIVE! | Arsenal news & transfers🔴⚪Arsenal fixtures & scores | FREE Arsenal highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺 Arsenal's opening bid was rejected but the 28-year-old now looks set to join the Premier League champions. Guimaraes, who joined the Magpies in 2022 from Lyon for £40m, has made 195 appearances for Newcastle, scoring 31 goals. Newcastle had been keen to ensure Guimaraes, who has two years left on his contract plus a club-held option for a third, remained at the club but if this deal goes through as expected, they will have made more than £240m from player sales this summer. Anthony Gordon joined Barcelona in a £69.3m deal and Spurs signed Sandro Tonali for £100m, while manager Eddie Howe also departed in what has been a turbulent summer at St James' Park. Newcastle were desperate to keep Guimaraes Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie: Newcastle were desperate to keep Bruno Guimaraes and if he had said he wanted to stay, Newcastle would have refused any offer from Arsenal or any other club.Attempts to persuade Guimaraes otherwise were made and positive conversations were held, but he was insistent he wanted to leave because he felt this was his last big opportunity to win titles.The deal could only go ahead if two things happened: Guimaraes said he wanted to leave (which he has respectfully) and Newcastle sold on their terms, similar to Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.Newcastle insisted it was their valuation or no deal. They would only sell Guimaraes at a fee that would become one of the highest paid for a player aged 28 or over.In addition, a deal would only be sanctioned if the situation was handled properly - for example, Guimaraes attending Newcastle's training camp in Spain, which he reported to on Monday. Newcastle feel Guimaraes has complied with their demands immaculately. They did not want a repeat of the Alexander Isak situation, where he refused to train before joining Liverpool last summer.Agents were in between the clubs from the outset but Newcastle refused all pushes, which had began with mentions of a deal worth £40-£45m in June. Newcastle were left frustrated because they felt Arsenal elongated the transfer by refusing to contact them for weeks.Newcastle insist there have been no fall outs and good relations remain between player and club. 'A statement signing for Arsenal' Sky Sports' Oliver Yew: This is a statement signing for Arsenal. Guimaraes is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, if not the world, and from a position of strength, Arsenal have taken him from Newcastle. Midfield is already an area of the pitch where Arsenal are strong but Guimaraes' arrival is certainly an upgrade with Christian Norgaard set for a move to Everton. Myles Lewis-Skelly was playing incredibly well at the end of last season and started the Champions League final. Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino are World Cup winners and after some rest will be ready to go. There's Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze in the No 10 position alongside the two potential starters in Declan Rice and Guimaraes. The Brazilian gives Arteta even more options and it also allows for the possibility for Declan Rice to get a breather in certain games after his exploits last season. It's a world class midfield and if Arsenal weren't favourites for the title already, they are now. Question marks were being raised over the fee Newcastle wanted for a player that will be 29 in November but the deal has been done nowhere near the reported £100m fee that was wanted. At the start of the transfer window, you'd have probably said this is a fair fee but with the last few weeks we've had in the window with big money spent on midfielders Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers, anything under £100m looks good value. Guimaraes is a little older but this is Arsenal's strategy, they want to win now. They have signed some younger players but last summer's deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres was to win now. He won't need any time to settle in. He is one of the most consistent Premier League midfielders. Arsenal won't necessarily make money on him in the future but his arrival might get them closer to winning a first Champions League and he might help them retain the Premier League. If they can add a left winger and some star quality in that position, which looks like the last piece of the puzzle, it looks like bad news for their title rivals. Where would Guimaraes fit in at Arsenal? It is easy to understand Arsenal's interest in Guimaraes. The Newcastle captain is one of the Premier League's most complete midfielders, capable of dominating and destroying but also scoring and creating, with passing ability to match his physicality. If the Gunners do secure his signature, he would be joining a group of midfielders which includes Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly. So where and how would he fit in? Read Nick Wright's feature here.

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No Writer
Aug 5
Boxer appears in Greek court after British woman's body found in suitcase

The body of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was discovered by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of the Greek capital on 18 July. The suspect accused of killing Ms Ross is widely reported to be Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, an Afghan boxer who left his home country after being orphaned as a teenager. The authorities are yet to publicly confirm his identity. He arrived at court for a hearing on Wednesday morning in an unmarked grey Hyundai i30 car, alongside a number of police officers, and left in the same vehicle about an hour later. It is understood he was assigned a court-appointed lawyer during the hearing, which took place in private. He is expected to appear again for a further hearing on Thursday. The court is located just a few minutes' walk from where the charity worker's body was found. Ahmadzai, who was initially detained on illegal weapons possession charges, is facing a charge of homicide with intent, as well as accusations he stole more than €10,000 (£8,573) from the victim's bank accounts using her bank cards, police said. Greek officials said he admitted moving the body but has denied the homicide allegations. Homicide with intent is understood to be equivalent to a murder charge in Scotland. Police said the suspect was detained for questioning after investigators reviewed surveillance camera footage recorded near the abandoned building. After allegedly killing Ms Ross, who is understood to be from Edinburgh in Scotland, Ahmadzai is accused of sending a series of messages from her phone to her friends and family before switching off the device. He is then said to have bought another phone and texted her friends in Athens, including his wife, impersonating an unnamed jihadist saying he had killed the Scot because of her religion, Greek newspapers Proto Thema and Ta Nea reported. The newspapers reported his wife told the police she suspected her husband's involvement in the death when she woke up to find he was not in their apartment and tracked his phone to where Ms Ross was staying. Flowers have been placed outside the abandoned building where Ms Ross' body was discovered. One had a card with the words "rest in peace" written in Greek. The derelict structure is heavily graffitied, missing its windows, and surrounded by tall metal barriers. Read more from Sky News:Jewish couple 'attacked by teens who tried to take clothing'Armed man arrested near Trump's golf course Ms Ross is believed to have died between five and seven days before she was found, during a heatwave in which temperatures reached 36C. The Hellenic Police, Greece's national force, were able to identify her using fingerprints and with the help of Interpol. Ms Ross entered Greece on 26 June and was initially staying with friends in Piraeus, a port area of Athens. She is then said to have gone to meet American friends in another part of the city, but it is unclear if this ever happened. Authorities are awaiting the results of tissue analysis to determine whether she died from suffocation, as suggested by a preliminary assessment by the medical examiner. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said earlier: "Our thoughts are with Elisabeth's family during this difficult time. "We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities." Police Scotland is also liaising with authorities in Greece and is providing support to Ms Ross' family.

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No Writer
Aug 5
Famous gossip blogger in hospital after livestreaming self harm

Warning: This article contains references to self-harm. The video, streamed on TikTok on Tuesday, appears to show the former gossip journalist covered in blood with cuts on his arms and torso, while drawing a knife across himself. The footage has been taken down. A spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office told Sky News's US partner network NBC News they responded to Hilton's home after receiving reports of someone "who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media". The statement did not name Hilton but was sent in response to an inquiry about him. A later statement from the sheriff's office said the person was "safely recovered" and taken by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he was receiving medical attention. It said deputies spoke to family members at the scene, who confirmed the person had been alone inside the home. Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan, co-chiefs of talent management firm Golden Artists Entertainment - which represents Hilton - said they are "aware of the concerning content circulating online". "At this time, we have not been able to make direct contact with him, despite our ongoing efforts to reach him," they said. "Our primary concern is Perez's health and well-being, as well as the well-being of his family." See more from Sky News:Experts sound alarm after AI tries to deceive humanAriana Grande to take a break from public life Hilton, 48, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, became famous in the early 2000s as a gossip journalist, reporting on celebrities who made public gaffes. His website PerezHilton.com started in 2004 and became one of the most famous celebrity news pages on the internet. He has since gone on to release four books and hosts a podcast. An openly gay man, Hilton was controversial for outing closeted LGBTQ celebrities on his blog. He was also once accused of stalking by pop star Lady Gaga in 2013, and had previously been sued for posting recordings of singer Britney Spears. While serving as a judge on Miss America 2009, he made derogatory comments about a contestant who did not support same-sex marriage. Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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No Writer
Aug 4
Burnham blocks early release of rapists and child sex offenders

It comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded to backlash to the plan, which was initiated by the Starmer administration with the goal of easing prison overcrowding, by putting it on pause and launching an "urgent review". Politics Hub: Follow the latest Mr Burnham has also delayed the start of the scheme from September to October and said he "wanted to go even further", but it was not possible without the prison system collapsing – putting the public "at much greater risk". He is also seeking to assure the public that offenders will face tighter community supervision, including new GPS monitoring for rapists to restrict movements. The policy has been controversial since the outset but returned to prominence earlier this month when it emerged a policeman's killers may be among those eligible for early release. PC Andrew Harper was killed in 2019 while responding to a quadbike theft in Berkshire. When teens Albert Bowers, Jessie Cole, and Henry Long tried to escape, his ankles got caught in a getaway car's towrope loop, and he was dragged along a country road for a mile. While Long, who was driving the vehicle, was jailed for 16 years for manslaughter and will not be eligible for early release, Bowers and Cole were jailed for 13 years for manslaughter and will be eligible to be freed under the scheme after serving half their sentences. PC Harper's widow, Lissie Harper, had called for the prime minister to intervene. In a statement on Monday night, she condemned the fact that two of her husband's killers remain eligible as an "utter betrayal". 'I will not be able to forgive' Ms Harper said: "What abhorrent message does this send? How dare ministers say the killing of a police officer is not enough of a 'sickening crime' that deserves the stiffest of punishments." Bowers and Cole had "robbed us of our future" and "should remain in jail", she added. "This is an utter betrayal – and it's one I will not be able to forgive or forget," she said. Thames Valley Police chief constable Jason Hogg also said he was "beyond disappointed", while Aileen O'Connor, chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation, said she was "absolutely outraged". PM: I wanted to go further The prime minister said public safety is his "top priority", and he understands the "anger, anxiety and distress that's been caused" by the early release scheme. Despite the announcement regarding rapists and child sex offenders, Mr Burnham said, "I know there will still be concerns about other offenders having their sentence shortened". "That's why we will also be introducing much tougher community measures," he said. "There will be a presumption that all offenders are tagged, longer periods of supervision and tough new rules, including restriction zones for offenders." Read more from Sky News:'Worrying decline' in adoptive familiesRacist abuse of NHS staff 'getting worse' The government has also announced a £10m package of support to provide better trauma-informed contact, with a new national helpline to contact all affected victims. Mr Burnham also hit out at the previous Tory governments for not having invested in the prison estate, with adult male prisons now at 98% capacity, and pledged "the fastest prison-building programme since the Victorian era". He has also asked Justice Secretary Alex Norris to look at how the UK can remove foreign offenders faster, review outdated Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, and free up space in women's prisons. How did we get here? Under changes in the Sentencing Act around 6,000 offenders were set to be freed in September after serving a third of their sentence – rather than half – as part of efforts to reduce overcrowding. Prisoners serving sentences of four years or more would be eligible for release at the halfway point of their term, rather than two-thirds. 'U-turn doesn't go far enough' The Conservatives had voted against the scheme and said the "U-turn" from Mr Burnham doesn't go far enough. Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy said "the trauma of victims being told their abusers may be released can't be undone", while Reform UK branded the scheme "disgusting".

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No Writer
Aug 5
Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal: Where would Newcastle captain fit in and what would it mean for Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly?

The Gunners have agreed a £75m fee with Newcastle for the 28-year-old, who would be joining a group of midfielders which includes Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly. So where and how would he fit in? No 6 or No 8? Guimaraes can play as a deep-lying midfielder or a more advanced No 8. He explained his preference for the latter position in an interview with Sky Sports in October 2022, when he was being used by former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe in the No 6 role. "To be honest, if you ask me this question, I have to say I prefer to play at No 8, but I think my role here, at No 6, is exactly what the team needs," said Guimaraes. "It is to take the ball out, to do some passes, to find the wingers and the strikers. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Arsenal news & transfers🔴⚪Arsenal fixtures & scores | FREE Arsenal highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺 "I can play both positions, but Eddie has a choice to make and, for me, the most important thing is just to play and to help Newcastle get the three points. I think my best position is at No 8 but I can play at No 6. It's not a problem for me." Guimaraes ended up playing in his favoured role for Newcastle after Sandro Tonali took over at No 6, but his flexibility, and willingness to put the team first, will doubtless appeal to Mikel Arteta, who loves players able to slot into different positions. Guimaraes' versatility shines through when breaking down his minutes played by position in the Premier League. The graphic above shows he has played most of his minutes for Newcastle at the base of midfield but also highlights his ability to play as both a right and left-sided No 8, providing further evidence of the flexibility he can bring to Arsenal in terms of how he is used. The options he'd give Arteta Even when ostensibly starting as Newcastle's No 6, Guimaraes was platformed to attack. "With the way we are playing, Dan Burn is at left-back, so he can stay in the middle and I can go and be another player to help the attackers," he added to Sky Sports in 2022. Guimaraes finished that season with four goals and five assists in the Premier League for Newcastle, despite playing as the No 6. He was even more productive in the following campaign, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists in the same role. In total, the Brazil international has contributed an impressive total of 30 goals and 25 assists in 153 Premier League appearances for the club, underlining the extent of his attacking threat. Arsenal have plenty of full-backs capable who could tuck inside to allow him to get forward from the No 6 position. But another way to maximise Guimaraes's attacking qualities in a box-to-box role would be to use him as part of a double pivot. Rice could be the perfect foil. The 27-year-old spent most of last season playing as Arsenal's left-sided No 8, with Zubimendi playing at No 6. But he finished it playing further back, on the right of a double pivot with Lewis-Skelly, who impressed after his late-season move into midfield. Rice excelled alongside the youngster. Like Guimaraes, he has the energy to get up and down the pitch as a box-to-box midfielder but he is also tactically aware and disciplined in his positioning. Even before he was moved back into a double pivot last season, Rice often provided cover for Zubimendi, who was able to score five Premier League goals while playing as Arsenal's No 6. Using Guimaraes and Rice in a double pivot would allow Arteta to deploy one of Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze as a pure No 10. In the event of Rice being unavailable, or simply needing a rest, he could even use both players as No 8s ahead of Guimaraes at No 6. If Arteta wanted to go in the opposite direction and prioritise physicality over flair, he could sacrifice a playmaker for Zubimendi and push Guimaraes forward, into the right-sided No 8 role in which he spent much of the last two seasons for Newcastle. A midfield trio of Guimaraes, Zubimendi and Rice might not appear the most attack-minded but it would certainly allow Arsenal to win most physical battles in central midfield. It should also be noted that Guimaraes actually profiles similarly to Odegaard as a passer. Guimaraes made almost exactly the same number of line-breaking passes per 90 minutes as the Arsenal captain last season. His average of 8.6 put him well ahead of either Rice or Zubimendi. He also directed a similar percentage of passes forward to Odegaard, and was in fact more efficient in terms of forward-pass accuracy. The numbers reflect a capacity to unlock opposition defences which could mitigate Odegaard's absence, at least to some extent, while providing another source of creativity from central midfield. Would others lose out? The arrival of Guimaraes would inevitably raise questions about some of Arsenal's other midfield options but is easy to see the logic behind their efforts to land a player of his quality. Last season, the distribution of midfield minutes was too heavily weighted towards Rice and Zubimendi, both of whom would benefit from a lighter load having played more than 4,000 minutes. Arsenal's overreliance on Rice and Zubimendi was partly due to injuries. Odegaard and Merino both had long spells on the sidelines, along with Kai Havertz, who can also play in midfield. But it also reflected Arteta's lack of trust in alternatives such as Christian Norgaard, who is expected to join Everton. Norgaard's exit would free up a space in the squad for Guimaraes but Arsenal may still have work to do to reduce numbers, with Ethan Nwaneri and Fabio Vieira having returned from their loan spells at Marseille and Hamburg respectively last season. Lewis-Skelly, meanwhile, may find himself bumped down the pecking order having finished last season as a midfield starter ahead of Zubimendi. But Arsenal played 63 games last term and will be targeting silverware on multiple fronts again. The level of rotation required in that context, and the potential for injuries and absences, should still allow opportunities for Lewis-Skelly in midfield. But the reality is that Guimaraes, valued at £80m by Newcastle, would not be arriving to play a supporting role.

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