Bruno Guimaraes was called a "fat rat" by a Sunderland supporter as he arrived at the Stadium of Light. He responded in the second half by scoring his first Arsenal goal before referencing the insult in a post-match social media post.
How Bruno Guimaraes Answered A Sunderland Insult With His First Arsenal Goal
Footage The Sun obtained captured Guimaraes arriving at the Stadium of Light, where a Sunderland fan shouted, "You fat rat," at him from the crowd. The clip circulated widely before kickoff, and home supporters continued to target the Arsenal midfielder during the match.
Guimaraes came on at half-time for Myles Lewis-Skelly and scored 12 minutes later. In the 58th minute, he struck from the edge of the box to beat the goalkeeper and give Arsenal the lead, scoring his first goal for the club.
He celebrated in front of the home supporters by cupping his ears and making a gesture with his fingers. Guimaraes later explained that the celebration was a response to the "fat rat" insult.
Guimaraes made the reference clearer after the final whistle. He posted on his Instagram story: "They know what they are. The fat rat wishes you a nice weekend."
Multiple outlets reported that the post was aimed at the Sunderland supporters who had shouted the insult at him before the match.
Why Guimaraes Says Injury Delayed His Arsenal Return Until Now
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Guimaraes reflected on his goal and his return from injury.
"It's unbelievable. I feel very good," he said. "Everyone knows I had a difficult start with injuries in a short time, but I'm glad to be back to play."
The goal capped a difficult start to his Arsenal career, with injuries limiting his involvement since his move to the club. He went on to address his Newcastle past during the same post-match interview.
"Everyone knows my past, had an amazing history at Newcastle but now I'm trying to create new history here and it starts with the right foot," he said.
Guimaraes spent four years at Newcastle before joining Arsenal, making the fixture against Sunderland his first competitive appearance for the Gunners against a club from the North East. For Guimaraes, the goal was also about putting his difficult start at Arsenal behind him.
Injuries had disrupted his early months at the club, but he was now back on the pitch and looking to make an impact. The Sunderland fans' reaction added another layer to the moment, but Guimaraes was already focused on starting a new chapter at Arsenal.
How Guimaraes' Newcastle History Explains The Sunderland Reaction
Guimaraes joined Arsenal from Newcastle this summer in a reported £75 million deal after four-and-a-half years at the club, where he captained them to the 2025 Carabao Cup.
His Newcastle connection made him a natural target for the Sunderland supporters, even though he now plays for Arsenal. Guimaraes' Newcastle past played a big part in the reception he received at the Stadium of Light.
He has since turned his attention to Arsenal's next fixtures, although the events in Sunderland are unlikely to be forgotten quickly. The abuse before kick-off, his goal, and his response after the match made the night particularly memorable for the Arsenal midfielder.
