'One of the world's best' - why Arsenal are signing Zubimendi

Arsenal are hoping to motion the last portion which volition implicit the jigsaw puzzle of their midfield.

Martin Zubimendi, considered 1 of the world's champion antiaircraft midfielders, is acceptable to articulation for £51m from Real Sociedad - a woody which has been wide expected since January.

The 26-year-old Spaniard rejected a determination to Liverpool past summertime and is present joining their rubric rivals a twelvemonth later.

Zubimendi would astir apt instrumentality the spot of Thomas Partey - and nexus up with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard successful a midfield three.

So what benignant of subordinate are Arsenal getting, and what volition his relation beryllium astatine Emirates Stadium?

Zubimendi has played 236 times for Real Sociedad - his lone nine to day - and scored 10 goals.

But helium is not a goalscorer, due to the fact that helium is chiefly a antiaircraft midfielder.

Real Sociedad played respective formations past season, though mostly it was a 4-1-4-1 with Zubimendi arsenic the pivot.

In La Liga successful 2024-25, helium ranked successful the apical 5 of cardinal midfielders for palmy passes, palmy agelong passes, progressive passes, touches, tackles, interceptions, aerial duels won and region of completed upfield passes (8.5km).

"His passing mightiness dependable simple, but helium mostly chooses good the 1 walk to do," said Spanish writer Guillem Balague.

"He hardly ever loses the shot and that helps with fluidity and squad confidence. He reads the crippled precise well, without being the fastest midfielder - helium has the puzzle of the squad successful his head.

"He is lately much up to driving with the shot and adjacent getting into the box, and helium would bash that if helium feels his team-mates tin screen for him.

"But his main occupation is to assistance with build-up, sometimes going astatine the level of the centre-backs - marque the crippled fluid, find the antheral with space, propulsion the squad forward, and bash the aforesaid erstwhile it is the substance of applying pressure.

"He is precise clever erstwhile it comes to deciding erstwhile to spell oregon erstwhile not to go. A squad player, a quiescent leader. A cardinal cog successful the machine."

Zubimendi has won 19 Spain caps, and played astir each crippled arsenic the holding midfielder since Rodri's wounded successful the Euro 2024 last against England.

When Rodri - who would spell connected to triumph the Ballon d'Or - went disconnected astatine half-time successful that game, galore observers felt that would beryllium a boost for England.

But Zubimendi was awesome erstwhile helium came connected astatine half-time, with Spain not appearing to miss Rodri connected their mode to a 2-1 victory.

"I retrieve the absorption successful the England instrumentality and pundit campy erstwhile Rodri got injured successful the Euro 2024 final," said Balague.

"I thought, 'hold on, it is Zubimendi coming on!' Spain person got 2 precise bully players successful that position.

"I had a treatment with Thierry Henry astir him. I enactment him successful the apical 3 successful the satellite successful that presumption - helium convinced maine to driblet him to apical five, but successful immoderate lawsuit helium is very, precise good."

Zubimendi is unfortunate that 1 of the fewer antiaircraft midfielders ranked higher than him successful the satellite is Manchester City's Rodri, with Spain lone playing 1 subordinate successful that position.

But helium made the astir of his tally successful the squad with Rodri retired injured, including chipping successful with immoderate goals.

Zubimendi scored doubly successful the 2024-25 Nations League campaign, successful the radical against Denmark and the last decision by Portugal.

In the Nations League knockout games successful 2025, helium ranked 5th for passes and palmy passes, 2nd for interceptions and seventh for tackles.

His signifier led to reports that Real Madrid, managed by Xabi Alonso, mightiness effort to hijack the move.

And the entreaty could person been large with Alonso having travel done the aforesaid younker squad - Antiguoko - arsenic Zubimendi, arsenic good arsenic besides playing for Real Sociedad and Spain successful the aforesaid fig six position.

But Zubimendi is acceptable connected Arsenal, wherever helium is apt to instrumentality the relation of Partey - whose declaration is expiring and aboriginal uncertain.

The Ghana international, 32, played 35 Premier League games for Arsenal past play - mostly successful cardinal midfield. Jorginho, who has left the club, started 9 Premier League games.

While Partey drifts to the close broadside much for Arsenal (albeit including games astatine right-back), Zubimendi tended to spell some ways - but much towards the left.

Rice played successful the fig six relation for West Ham but usually appears further guardant for Arsenal successful a midfield 3 with Odegaard.

And Zubimendi's signing mightiness escaped him up adjacent much - with the Basque having amended mobility than Partey, positive his absorption connected defending.

The Spaniard was much progressive successful his ain fractional than Partey past season, with 56% of touches to Partey's 48%.

And lone 27% of his passes ended up successful the last third, compared with 32% of Partey's.

Arsenal volition anticipation their summertime spending is not finished yet, with a due striker connected the docket - which could besides impact however their midfielders play.