The 26-year-old Martin Zubimendi has reportedly arrived in London to complete his transfer from Real Sociedad to Arsenal. The Spanish national team midfielder is a long-time target of Mikel Arteta. He will finally land at the Emirates Stadium after his 60 million euro release clause was paid. This article on the 96 official website provides updates on all of the latest developments regarding Martin Zubimendi.
The EPL side Arsenal has been tracking Zubimendi for some time now, watching him closely since last summer when they initially began their negotiations for Mikel Merino. As soon as Real Madrid announced that they were not going after Zubimendi this summer, the Gunners took the necessary steps to update their plans and expedited their pursuit of the midfielder.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have considered the deal a done deal for some time now. The current EPL Champions, Liverpool, tried to sign Zubimendi last summer, but the player opted to stay in San Sebastian for another season.
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Vital Role in the Middle for Gunners
Zubimendi’s arrival is a perfect fit to take the place of the two mainstays in Arsenal’s midfield. Both are Jorginho, who is now at Flamengo, and Thomas Partey, who has not signed a contract extension. Arsenal’s main priority this summer has been looking for a striker, but Arteta’s focus is on the midfield, and the arrival of Zubimendi is a statement in that regard.
Zubimendi scored two goals and two assists in the 2024/25 season with Real Sociedad and had appeared in 36 La Liga games. At that time, Real Sociedad was in 11th position in La Liga, but you can not judge Zubimendi’s contributions by goals alone. He had been the keystone of Sociedad’s playing philosophy of playing in a positional play, short, calculated, and risky passes from deep behind the backline.
More touches, passes, and ball progressions than any of his teammates means that Zubimendi is the distribution brain on the pitch. He can dictate the flow of a game as a deep-lying midfielder, which makes him a perfect fit for Arsenal.
Imagining the Gyokeres-Saka Duet at Arsenal
Martin Zubimendi was born and raised in a footballing environment in San Sebastian that revered the Xabi Alonso philosophy. He was even coached directly by Alonso himself.
He is known as a humble and pragmatic figure off the field. However, he is very confident in his decision-making on the field. In Real Sociedad’s scheme, Zubimendi is often the player who receives the ball in dangerous areas. The area is right in front of the penalty box, where the opponent tries to provoke high pressing. He is a key player in breaking the pressure, both through precise passes and intelligent movements.
For Arsenal, his arrival not only adds depth to the squad but also brings a special skill set. That skill is the ability to be a natural link between the back and midfield. With his calm and effective style of play, Zubimendi is ready to fill the void left by his seniors. He may also provide Arsenal with a new foundation for a more ambitious season.
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