After an injury-hit season noticed the Gunners end second once more within the Premier League, Arsenal fought off main competitors to safe the signing of Actual Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
However who’s the Spaniard, what’s going to he carry to the facet and why is he costing £55 million? Phil Costa stories.
—
For a few years, it felt like getting Martin Zubimendi out of San Sebastian could be an inconceivable activity. That is somebody who took their first breath in Donostia and if right down to him, would take his final (and the a whole lot of hundreds of thousands in between) in that very same, humid air with little fuss. These with data of the area and its folks will realise this isn’t unusual.
But it surely hasn’t been for the need of making an attempt. First it was Barcelona who noticed their advances rebuffed, then it was Arsenal, Actual Madrid, and at last Liverpool who got here closest of all final summer season after agreeing to pay his €60 million buyout clause in full – earlier than the participant rejected the transfer.
Nevertheless, after 236 appearances and almost 18,000 minutes performed for his boyhood membership, the 26-year-old has agreed to hitch Arsenal within the data that he wants a brand new problem and La Actual themselves should rebuild with their supervisor and sporting director additionally leaving this summer season. He definitely departs with their blessing after serving to to carry Champions League soccer and silverware again to Anoeta for the primary time in 34 years; as a product of their well-known Zubieta academy no much less.
So, what do Zubi do?
He’s very a lot the quantity six for Actual Sociedad, midfield anchor, lone pivot, nevertheless you need to name it; the man sitting in entrance of the again 4 tasked with defending them defensively whereas concurrently holding an essential position in construct up. Zubimendi isn’t actually a deep-lying playmaker who makes 110 passes-per-game at 95% completion charge, or a destroyer who darts round like an assault canine, snapping into challenges and hoovering up free balls – however extra a hybrid of each.
The 26-year-old can look a bit untidy at occasions because of how La Actual play (it was additionally a tough season for them which skews the numbers), and sometimes hits the ball excessive, first time into area the place their forwards can break in transition. Nevertheless, that’s to not say he can’t be cuter in possession. In line with SkillCorner knowledge, Zubimendi averaged the second-most line breaking passes in LaLiga (141) final season with solely Barcelona midfielder Pedri making extra (163); and simply 4 midfielders made extra progressive passes than him.
His shorter sport may be tough to analyse at first, as a result of he doesn’t get on the ball or make as many passes as different gamers on this place. However Zubimendi sometimes excels as a reference level, scuttling throughout or dropping between the centre backs to supply options for gamers being pressed, earlier than bouncing the ball again in a single or two touches and going once more. The midfielder may not all the time play precisely, however he all the time seems to play rapidly (and confidently on each toes) which may present a welcome antidote for the horseshoe of demise.
He’s additionally snug progressing by way of carrying, with a pointy turning radius and burst to get away from folks from his personal defensive third; boasting a 68% profitable take-on proportion which not solely places him clear of each different Arsenal midfielder – however within the 93rd percentile throughout the highest 5 European leagues, per FBref knowledge.
For me, the worth in Zubimendi stems from his appreciation of the fundamentals. There’s apparent consideration positioned on his physique positioning, the place he receives the ball and the way he ought to move to his teammates. There’s additionally nuance in his sport about the place he stands, realizing when to hurry up play, realizing when to go direct, the tempo and weight of his passes, and the place his affect is most wanted to go well with completely different sport states or opposition.
Which is why, tactically, this opens up alternatives as a result of despite the fact that Thomas Partey (or Jorginho) are lone sixes on paper, Arsenal normally drop anyone in to assist help construct up, whether or not it’s an inverted left again, Declan Rice and even Martin Odegaard. The 26-year-old is fully snug because the lone pivot; he’s carried out it for each membership and nation and in principle, ought to push all people additional ahead, away from construct up, to areas the place they’re extra more likely to trigger points for the opposition.
There’s additionally potential for a extra pure double pivot with Rice, who can help the Spaniard with out having to babysit and nonetheless do all of the issues he’s good at – like squeezing groups, hoovering up second balls and denying the opposition an exit route. And in the event that they do discover one; let me introduce you to his mates; William Saliba and Gabriel. Zubimendi may leap out of his area to help the press and pressure excessive turnovers ought to alternatives current themselves.
Defensively, there’s lots to love concerning the midfielder and his studying of the sport. Most individuals consider deep midfielders as firefighters; banging and crashing into tackles, blocking photographs and placing their our bodies on the road – Zubimendi is the man who makes positive these fires don’t occur within the first place.
He’s very positionally conscious, consistently scanning to gauge a picture of the pitch and the place his teammates are standing to anticipate their wants. The 26-year-old isn’t anyone who goes in search of the ball, he prefers to face his floor and minimize off passing lanes with delicate physique motion, which successfully forces the opposition into making the choice he needs them to make. As soon as they’re led into congested areas or in the direction of the touchline, that’s when he turns into extra aggressive and tigerish in his makes an attempt to win the ball again.
Solely Jon Aramburu (103) accomplished extra tackles than Zubimendi for La Actual final season (73), whereas his 44 interceptions have been away from another teammate, which highlights a capability to get caught in when wanted and in addition problem precisely. The midfielder is squeaky clear in direct contact, with a robust sense of timing and appears to pinch the ball away from folks as a substitute of clattering all people and their ancestors out.
Athletically talking, the midfielder is ok throughout the board though I’m curious to see how he handles the step up in physicality and depth, as a result of Barclays-ball is changing into more and more transition heavy, and despite the fact that this iteration of Arsenal are centred round management, there can be conditions the place he finds himself remoted and his lack of further gears may very well be uncovered. Like most gamers, he’s faster bursting ahead than operating backwards and can be left wanting at occasions when stretched.
One other enjoyable factor to notice: standing at slightly below six foot – which is tall, however not tremendous tall – Zubimendi is monstrous within the air and since making his debut for La Actual six seasons in the past, has the most effective success charge of any midfielder in LaLiga to contest 250 or extra aerial duels (67%). That sound you hear is Nicolas Jover including all his Wyscout clips to a extra personal stash.
Regardless of Arsenal bagging their latest and much-needed answer in midfield, there are nonetheless reservations about this participant and it’s comprehensible why. Zubimendi isn’t somebody that dazzles you with apparent match-winning high quality, nor does he leap off the web page statistically which has led folks to query: what makes him ok to not solely anchor this crew, however push them over the road with Premier League and Champions League ambitions?
After all, there’s a world wherein he can’t try this and struggles to fulfill what’s required on the highest degree. However my thoughts retains going again to at least one factor: what number of England followers rubbed their fingers along with glee when Rodri was compelled off and changed by Zubimendi within the EURO 2024 ultimate final July? I’m positive most did, however I’m additionally positive that the majority of these followers bear in mind him looking down Cole Palmer like a heat-seeking missile and selecting his pocket on midway, or striding away from Jude Bellingham in midfield to create an opportunity for Mikel Oyarzabal.
There was one other second late on the place some sharp considering put him in place to dam an Ollie Watkins shot (the sport was nonetheless tied at that time), which makes his half time introduction all of the extra spectacular; with the ability to come right into a sport of that magnitude and never solely match the tempo – however stamp your authority on it – in a sometimes understated approach.
And that’s who Arsenal are signing. He’s a participant’s participant. He’s somebody who managers love since you by no means want to fret about his fundamentals, or the place he’s standing as a result of as a rule – he’s doing them simply the way you need them carried out.
That’s why Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente known as him a “positive wager” who does “all the pieces you ask of him”. It’s why (now departing) Actual Sociedad supervisor Imanol Aguacil mentioned he could be “nearly inconceivable to exchange”, with Spanish icon Xavi labelling him “a participant who instructions conditions with and with out the ball” after making an attempt to signal him for Barcelona throughout his time in control of the membership.
Recruitment won’t ever be an actual science however Zubimendi provides chew, bounce and readability to an ageing midfield group in want of all three. Fortunately, there’s greater than a slice of residence on this Arsenal crew which ought to ease his preliminary transition, but additionally present a platform to assist carry this membership Basque again the place they belong.
—
Comply with Phil on BlueSky – https://bsky.app/profile/philcosta.bsky.social
