Why singing Zubimendi will transform Arsenal

Martin Zubimendi is officially an Arsenal player after months of unofficial confirmations from a journalist “close” to discussions, who first began reporting that the deal had been all but signed since January 2025. A deal was sealed for roughly £51.7M (€60 60million; $63.4M) for the Spanish defensive midfielder in his prime. I’m thrilled at the signing. I’ve wanted Arsenal to sign Zubimendi for the past 3 years as immediate competition and a long-term successor for Thomas Partey. But he’s here now, somehow still only 26, despite his experience, and I think, fair to say, universal recognition as a top 5 player in the world in his position, to put it conservatively. Let’s look at what he brings to Arsenal and why I believe he’ll have an immediate impact on improving the team.

Now, let’s address some of the concerns I believe are valid, although short-term, regarding his adjustment to a new league and team. I’ll give it a separate heading for dramatic effect.

“But, we always raise these concerns about players coming to the Premier League, why should Zubimendi be exempt”? (Dramatic enough title?)

The general playing speed of the Premier League will be faster and more physical than he will have been accustomed to in La Liga. The pressing, closing down of passing lanes to win back possession will likely be more intense on a game-to-game basis as even the smaller teams will have quicker and more athletic players that he may be used to playing against as consistently. Teams transition and counter faster and with more direct threat on goal, given the athletic nature of the league, so Zubimendi’s fitness, speed, tackling, and defensive positioning will all need to be on a higher alert than ever before, to ensure the midfield and defenders don’t get exposed. All valid. All relevant for most players making the change to the league, and Zubimendi likely won’t be an exception…to an extent.

Let’s not forget Thomas Partey, at roughly the same age (27), in the same role, coming from the same league, struggled to adjust to the physical demands and quickness of the Premier League when he signed from Atlético Madrid in 2020. However, that was a very different team. One of the early stages of developing a squad good enough to match the club's ambition of becoming one of the best teams in the world. The team was far less balanced, with collectively much less experience in playing Arteta’s style, and more crucially, much less athletic and physical, therefore unequipped to provide real support to aid Partey’s adjustment. Remember, Partey was playing in a midfield with Xhaka, Elneny, Ceballos (on loan), and Ødegaard, which, although it showed flashes of life, is being kind. A diminished pulse, too often flirting with flatlining, captures my memory of that team better.

But I digress, it wasn’t great, and Partey was the athlete in that midfield. His role was to essentially to be an octopus that sat at the base of that midfield breaking up play, tracking back, processing passes forward, taking shots from distance (don’t get me started), and the pressure of protecting a defense made up of a young Gabriel (in his first season), David Luiz, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, Chambers, Bellerin, and Tierney. I mean, it was cruel! Not a time I, nor I’m sure, Partey will want to relive.

Zubimendi has a different skill set from Partey and is walking into a very different reality today. He will have midfield attacking and defensive support from Rice, Merino, Havertz, and Lewis-Skelly (assuming he spends more time in midfield next season), Nwaneri, and Ødegaard, who has developed his defensive abilities as a right-sided number 8 or 10. Collectively, they have at least a year more experience playing together before Zubimendi arrives, which will help his transition. That midfield is also tall and physical, with most being over 6 ft. Zubimendi may actually be one of the shortest at 5’11, which further bodes well for him in terms of physicality and support. Zubimendi is also more mobile than Partey, and people seem to forget how disruptive he has been throughout his career, breaking up play and winning duels.

It reflects his positional intelligence, as he is able to read the game a step ahead to anticipate where the attacking player(s) are going or transitioning to, and put in a tackle. A player with that quality and intelligence is a welcome addition to the Arsenal midfield.

Another reason he will thrive is that the Arsenal defense is exceptional. I could write an entire blog about this point alone, but Zubimendi will have the luxury of not having to overly stress about any mistakes as part of growing pains. Similarly, although he came in with significant Premier League experience, Jourginho experienced a relatively seamless transition into this team due to his football brain and tempo-conducting playing style. Similarly, Zubimendi, a player known for controlling the tempo and always finding the right pass, is extremely press-resistant and rarely loses possession of the ball. Part of his tempo-dictating gifts is forward passing ability. For years, it has seemed like Arsenal’s build-up play has become slower and slower. Having another player who can set the tone for transitions or spot a quick opportunity to exploit an opponent will be a tremendous addition.

Zubimendi’s distribution last season was varied, comfortable distributing passes to either side of the pitch, wide or centrally. Arteta typically wants to get the wide as early as possible, but Zubimendi’s variety of passes should add to our unpredictability in build-up. Only three midfielders bettered his 238 line-breaking passes in La Liga last season, all of whom played for Real Madrid — Modric, Tchouameni, and Valverde. He also ranked fourth for passes that broke the opposition’s midfield line (141), and line-breaking passes into the final third (131).

Martin Zubimendi is being added to one of the best teams in the world. This is a team that has placed second in the Premier League for three consecutive seasons and made the Champions League semi-finals last season. This is all before additional signings are made this summer in other key areas, such as striker and left winger, which will add quality to the team to further help make his transition easier. This isn’t a team he has to put on his back or carry, although he will be more than just a cog in this well-oiled Arsenal machine. Zubimendi will be pivotal in this Arsenal side for years to come.