CARDIFF, Wales -- Martin Ødegaard has spoken glowingly of Bruno Guimarães and said he has already formed a connection with the Brazil international on the pitch.
Guimarães joined the Gunners from Newcastle United in a deal worth up to £75 million ($101 million) and made his first start for the club in the Community Shield on Sunday.
Ødegaard and Lewis-Skelly made up the rest of Arsenal's midfield, and they overpowered City in the 3-0 win in Cardiff. The Arsenal captain was the most advanced of the three and got on the scoresheet early in the second half with a superb finish.
Guimarães caught the eye on his Arsenal debut with his cross-field distribution and tough-tackling style. He was replaced at half-time by Declan Rice as he continues to build up his fitness following his World Cup exertions.
"I think it's been so natural, I think the connection is already there," Ødegaard said of the Brazilian after Sunday's win.
"I think you can see that he's a top, top player from the first second that he's in the training, you feel that presence and the quality. So, I think it's been really easy to connect with him and yeah, brilliant player."
During his time at Newcastle, Guimarães often clashed with Arsenal players and after joining the club, revealed that Declan Rice had sent him a message saying 'come here and please no more fights, now we're friends.'
It didn't take long for him to endear himself to Arsenal fans, who began chanting his name early in the first half. His assimilation in the dressing room has been similarly smooth.
"I think since the first day he came in, it has been such a natural thing. Although we had some big fights in the past with him, I think he has just come in as a really natural part of the team and you can see his quality.
"He can win the ball, he's a fighter, but he also has so much quality on the ball. And he has that, what can I say ... that calm on the ball. He always takes the right amount of time and finds the pass, so it's brilliant. And [Christos Tzolis] does, as well. So yeah, good to have new players perform like that already."
Ødegaard became the first Arsenal captain since 2004 to lift the Premier League trophy last season, but endured a difficult season on a personal level. He missed large chunks of the campaign through injury, and managed just one goal in all competitions.
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Now back to full fitness and with a strong World Cup campaign for Norway under his belt, he is raring to go as Arsenal look to defend their league title.
"I think last year was really a big struggle with a lot of difficult moments," he said.
"I think that's the worst thing for a footballer, to not be able to be on the pitch. And I think I had quite a lot of weird injuries and bad luck. So yeah, it was good for me to end the way ... first of all with the title here and then a good World Cup and then a break. So now I feel good and I'm ready to go again."
