Arsenal player named 'best in the world' by national team boss alongside Man City rival

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has been waxing lyrical about his options in midfield ahead of this summer's World Cup finals in North America

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente claims he has the best two defensive midfielders in world football in his squad in Rodri and Martin Zubimendi.

The Euro 2024 winners are heading to the World Cup this summer as among the competition's favourites.

Rodri is slowly showing signs of getting back up to speed following his ACL rupture at the start of last season, while Zubimendi has flourished throughout his debut Premier League season with Arsenal.

Throw Pedri into the mix and Spain's engine room is a sight to behold. De la Fuente said ahead of La Roja's friendly against Serbia: "After all the setbacks he went through, Rodri is back at a high level.

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"I’ve said before that he is the best in the world, but also on those same occasions [when he was injured] that we are very fortunate.

"After all, in that position, the number six role, we have the two best players in the world: Rodri and Martin [Zubimendi].

"So I will get ahead of a question you are probably going to ask: can they play together? Of course they can play together.

"We can play that way [with a double pivot] perfectly well. In my idea of football, they [Rodri and Zubimendi] may occupy a similar role, but they are different players with different characteristics.

"In fact, Martin is getting into the box more now and scoring goals, but he also has the qualities of a positional player, with balance and outstanding tactical awareness.

"Rodri has those same qualities too, so having them there gives us security, that kind of structure. But at the same time, you have to remember that only 11 can start. Then you would ask me: what about Pedri? And Fermin [Lopez]? And Fabian [Ruiz]?’"

Zubimendi has spent the past year or so trying to fill the void left behind by the injured Rodri. But there now appears to be a genuine chance that the duo could well start together for Spain at the World Cup.

The 27-year-old Gunner now has six goals to his name this term and it's the highest-scoring season of his career, to date.

Arsenal have to be careful about his fitness levels, however, as only Elliot Anderson, James Garner, Morgan Rogers and Sander Berge have covered more ground than him (329.90k) in the top-flight this term.

Zubimendi has also racked up more Premier League minutes than any other outfield Gunners player this season.