1 week ago
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Martin Keown believes one Arsenal star has helped to transform the squad, with Declan Rice seemingly agreeing after the victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Arsenal are looking like a well-oiled machine under Mikel Arteta, as the side continue to land impressive results with incredible efficiency. The latest of those saw the Gunners beat Bayern Munich 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium, ending the German outfit's unbeaten start to the season.
Even with Arsenal's injury issues, the way the squad is built so one player can replace another and make an impact is hard to compare across the whole of Europe. That has come from years of meticulous planning from both the coaching staff and the recruitment team, building a side that can compete across all competitions.
It's tough to pinpoint one star who makes all the difference, given how many of them have standout performances almost every time they step onto the pitch. However, Martin Keown believes that Martin Zubimendi is the latest addition to help unlock the rest of the squad, as well as Declan Rice.
Speaking on TNT Sports after Arsenal's win over Bayern Munich, Keown said to Rice: "Declan, just talk to me about Zubimendi, because I was saying there that you were running free in that game. Galloping all over the pitch, it was just like someone has lifted the chains off you.
"Is it Zubimendi that is giving you that licence to? Because it was just there."
Rice agreed with Keown when he said: "Yeah, it's been so easy to play with him. We only signed him in the summer, and usually it takes a while to build a connection. But from the first moment we had together in pre-season, I could just tell that I was going to play some good football with him.
"I just really liked him as a person and as a player. As the games have gone on, our understanding of each other has been outstanding. He's such a nice guy. He is the Spain number six, and we know what Spanish number sixes are like. They are the best at first-phase build-up, turning on the ball and playing forward, playing into pockets, and that is exactly what we've got with him.
"We all trust him with the ball. If there is a player on you, it is just easy to give him the ball, and we all feel so confident with him. He has been so good for us - an unbelievable player."
Those are high words of praise for the Spaniard, who has certainly made an impact, even if it has been quieter than those who make the difference at either end of the pitch. With Zubimendi, Arsenal have a player who unlocks the rest of the team, giving them freedom.
The midfielder operates as a pressure release valve at times, simply picking up the ball to help relieve some of the pressure from the opposition. It stops someone like Martin Odegaard from having to dictate play much deeper, as he did at times last season, while the full-backs are free to roam, as the ball doesn't have to progress out wide quite as much.
In all, the signing of Zubimendi has knitted together all of the good things Arsenal are capable of, which is certainly showing on the pitch and with the results.
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