Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta didn't mince his words when speaking about one of his players in the aftermath of the Gunners' 1-0 win over Hull

Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Bruno Guimaraes but insists there is still plenty more to come from the Brazilian midfielder. Arsenal moved six points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with a narrow 1-0 victory over Hull City on Saturday.

A second-half goal from Martin Odegaard proved enough to secure all three points. However, it was Guimaraes who received a special mention from his manager in the dressing room after the game.

The 28-year-old was making just his fourth league start of the season following his £75million arrival from Newcastle in the summer. But despite his notable lack of playing time, Arteta said the midfielder is now "hitting serious levels".

"He's much better, he had a massive impact, he's hitting serious levels now," the Spaniard said. "But we can still take him to another level.

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"That's my conviction, I told him that in the dressing room - he owned a lot of moments in the game. But there is still much more to come."

Despite being tipped as one of the signings of the summer, Guimaraes has had to bide his time for regular opportunities in an Arsenal shirt. He had to wait until September 19 to make his first start, only to find himself on the losing side as the Gunners suffered a 3-0 defeat to Brighton.

However, since scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory over Leeds last month, the Brazil international has started five of Arsenal's six matches in all competitions, including demanding away trips to Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

His partnership with Declan Rice also appears to be flourishing, with the pair increasingly establishing themselves as Arteta's preferred midfield combination.

Guimaraes has, however, completed just one full 90 minutes since joining Arsenal, having played the entire match in October's 3-0 victory over Lille. But having earned Arteta's confidence to start some of the club's biggest fixtures, the midfielder will be hoping to make himself increasingly difficult to leave out.

Saturday's victory over Hull was Arsenal's fifth consecutive league win. Manchester City's defeat by Nottingham Forest later in the day - their third successive loss in the competition - means the Gunners have strengthened their position at the summit.

Arsenal will return to domestic action after the international break with a trip to Guimaraes' old club Newcastle before hosting City at the Emirates Stadium on November 29 in what could prove a pivotal encounter in the title race.