Arsenal transfers: Is Martin Zubimendi Arteta’s key to creating a more Guardiola-esque side?

Although we are in the embryonic stages of this season’s winter transfer window, some clubs are already looking beyond January and planning for their 2025/26 campaigns.

One such club is Arsenal, who have been causing concern among its fans due to a recent dip in performance, especially in the absence of talisman Bukayo Saka, who will be unavailable for the foreseeable future after sustaining another serious hamstring injury.

Currently, supporters are demanding that certain areas of the squad be addressed before considering next season, specifically the need for a reliable out-and-out centre-forward. This is in light of the Gunners’ reliance on Kai Havertz to fill the ‘false nine’ role, despite the German international performing reasonably well.

Naturally, a club can focus on both the present and the future. Given what could potentially be a busy summer transfer window, with various players’ signatures pursued by a multitude of clubs, it’s understandable that Arsenal has acted early to secure Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad for a reported fee of £51 million, especially with Liverpool and Manchester City showing interest.

Liverpool were heavily linked with the Spanish international last summer, but a potential deal fell through. In the meantime, City turned attention to Zubimendi following the unfortunate news that Rodri, his fellow countryman and Ballon d’Or winner, will miss the entire 2024/25 season due to a knee ligament injury.

Zubimendi is expected to complete the current term with Real Sociedad before heading to north London, where he’ll reunite with former teammates and provide head coach Mikel Arteta—a fellow Basque native—with a welcome dilemma regarding team selection.

One familiar face to greet Zubimendi at London Colney left San Sebastián last summer but has yet to secure a regular starting berth. Mikel Merino, formerly of Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle, has made 13 league appearances so far, but his playing time has been limited due to injuries, missing five matches because of shoulder and knee issues. When available, he’s started seven times in England’s top division, completing the full 90 minutes on three occasions.

Merino has predominantly been utilised in central midfield, often alongside Declan Rice, who may be keeping an eye on Zubimendi’s situation, as it could prompt Arteta to reorganise his midfield. A student of football, Arteta is likely aware of Real Sociedad’s midfield during the backend of the 2019/20 season. For those who may not know, Imanol Alguacil also preferred a 4-2-3-1 formation, fielding Merino and Zubimendi as La Real’s double pivot, with Martin Ødegaard in a deep-lying forward role, and interestingly, Alexander Isak leading the line.

This well-balanced 6-8-10 midfield trio could easily be recreated, which puts some pressure on Rice. However, it is likely that the former West Ham captain will continue in the ‘number eight’ role while Zubimendi takes on the ‘number six’ position. He is known to play as the deepest of the two at his current club, anchoring the midfield by operating as the lone number six when Sociedad is in possession, sitting just in front of the four-man backline while the other midfielders push further up the pitch.

Zubimendi has undoubtedly emerged as the most coveted player for the number six role in football. Liverpool’s interest last summer and Manchester City’s consideration of him as a potential replacement for Rodri highlight his appeal. However, his decision to join Arsenal may stem from the desire to step out of Rodri’s shadow, where he has often found himself in a secondary role for the Spanish national team. This situation has sparked excitement among supporters, who see the potential for Zubimendi to thrive in a more prominent position.

In the tactical framework inspired by Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola, the role of the ‘six’ is crucial, and Arteta is keenly aware of its importance. The player in this position must effectively balance energy and discipline, playing a pivotal role in initiating attacks while also ensuring possession is maintained and recycled. Positioned just ahead of the central defenders, the ‘six’ can sometimes function as a third centre-back, a concept likened to a ‘point guard’ by Dutch writer Henk Spaan.

Arteta’s vision for Arsenal includes adopting strategies reminiscent of Guardiola’s approach, and integrating a Rodri-like midfielder could significantly enhance their dynamic and be more in line with English football’s most dominant side of recent years. The absence of a key player like Rodri has shown how vital this role is to City’s structure, making Zubimendi’s acquisition a strategic move for Arsenal. By securing him, the Gunners could unlock new tactical possibilities and strengthen their overall performance on the pitch.

Zubimendi excels at retaining possession of the ball, averaging only 11.3 losses per 90 minutes in La Liga this season. This is slightly higher than the 9.1 losses per 90 minutes recorded in the previous campaign. However, it’s essential to take this metric with a grain of salt, as players who attempt more ambitious passes often end up with higher loss numbers. Despite this, Zubimendi is not overly cautious; 293 of his 968 passes are forward, accounting for 30.2% of his total passes. This is a higher percentage than that of Luka Modric, who has 28.9%.

So far this La Liga season, Zubimendi is averaging 56.76 passes per 90 minutes, with an accuracy of 84.9%. Real Sociedad currently holds an average possession of 55.5% in La Liga, and Zubimendi would likely see a similar amount of the ball at Arsenal, who average 55.4% possession in the Premier League. While Arsenal boasts the fifth-best attack in the Premier League with 39 goals, the same cannot be said for Real Sociedad in La Liga. In fact, even Valencia, who are currently bottom with 18 goals, has outscored them, as Real Sociedad has only managed 17 goals, despite being in seventh place.

Compared to Arsenal’s primary midfield options this season, Zubimendi has a higher success rate in ground duels, winning 60.3% of them. Thomas Partey is the only Arsenal midfielder with more than 50% success, although he has often played at right-back. This illustrates Zubimendi’s effectiveness in defensive situations. While he is not an aggressive defensive midfielder in the mould of Patrick Vieira, he contributes significantly to breaking up opposition play.

Zubimendi can’t truly be fully appreciated using statistics, as was somewhat the case with Sergio Busquets, to whom the 25-year-old has been compared. Another player he is often likened to is his idol and former manager, Xabi Alonso. All three excel at sitting at the base of midfield, receiving the ball from the goalkeeper or defenders and initiating their team’s buildup play from the back, which is something Slot – like most modern coaches – demands. Press-resistant and calm under pressure, Zubimendi has carved out a reputation as one of the best players in a challenging position.

Alonso coached Zubimendi while in charge of Real Sociedad B and explained why he’s such a big fan, saying, “Martín is a player all coaches would want. He is generous; he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has the ability to generate play, to make those around him better, and always offers solutions to improve the move. He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him… I loved working with him.”

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