Arsenal’s pursuit of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi has received a significant boost as Spanish giants Barcelona have reportedly withdrawn from the race.
According to Mundo Deportivo, while the Catalan club admires the 24-year-old, they are in search of midfielders with a different skill set.
This development comes as good news for Mikel Arteta and the Gunners, who have been monitoring the midfielder for a considerable period. Zubimendi was in close proximity to joining the North London side earlier this year, but he ultimately opted against the move.
The midfielder has a €60 million (£51.5m) release clause, and numerous reports suggest that a transfer to Arsenal in the January window is highly likely.
As the Gunners continue their title challenge this season, reinforcements are crucial to avoid a recurrence of past slips that prevented them from securing league glory since 2004.
The name of Douglas Luiz has also surfaced multiple times, adding intrigue to see which player Arsenal will pursue more aggressively.
Zubimendi, with 165 appearances for Sociedad and four caps for the Spanish national team, is yet to reach the peak of his career. Securing his signature amid interest from other rival clubs would represent a significant triumph for Arsenal in the competitive transfer market.
Writer – Yash Bisht
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Highly unlikely Villa will let Luiz leave in January and why should they.
Scoring goals is the biggest issue in arsenal not the CM arsenal have got enough cover there no one will convince that Jesus and Nketiah will score enough goals for arsenal to win big trophies they are players who are only good for cup games period Havertz,Zinchenko,Odegaard,Rice,Jorginho,Elneny,Partey and Smith Rowe are enough for that midfield we even have versatile players who can step in is needed Timber,Trosaard,Kiwior and White eve Saliba was playing there in is early playing career.we need a striker to help this wonderful arsenal team to be great again.
Oh we have Partey also the upcoming Patino.
One constantly injured, the other not ready! Why be satisfied with such players?
I simply don t believe you have put any THOUGHT at all into your post!
While Zubimendi and for that matter, Douglas Luiz, are very decent central midfielders, they are not in the same class as Partey when he is fit.There are better options out there who may be available in the Summer window, with Fofanna of Monaco being one of them.As for the recruitment of a proven striker, I think most fans acknowledge this is required but it will not happen in January so we will have to make do with what we have.I just wish our Manager showed more imagination and enterprise when it comes to the use of our wingers who are operating in a straitjacket which is hampering their undoubted talent.Personally I would love to see a front three set up with Jesus and Saka on the right and left wings respectively and with Martinelli given an opportunity through the centre..Arteta seems very reluctant to tinker with his attacking set up ,even though this has failed to produce the goods against strong sides like Villa and Newcastle.
That is the crux of the matter that you have identified.
“When he is fit”
I would say that he misses a good 15-20 games a season through injury.
If you want a settled and strong midfield throughout the season then Partey should never be in contention, regardless of how good he is when fit.
I would concentrate on getting a striker this January and try for Tchoumeni or Camavinga in the summer..
Me 2, Precisely right. I am surprised at Grandad being so unrealistic for once. Constantly crocked players are as useless as Putin would be as a social worker!
Gentlemen, I did not suggest retaining Partey.I merely pointed out that he is superior to the two potential recruits mentioned when he is fit.Partey will go in the summer window and we should aim to acquire someone of his pedigree not merely efficient recyclers of the ball.The same applies to the excellent Tierney and possibly ESR who ,unfortunately are injury prone.
Yes Grandad, IMO he indeed is superior to both Me2’s suggested recruits. But you are avoiding the REAL point, which IS that Partey cannot stay fit and is therefore not of much use at all when planning a team and the system they use.
I deal ONLY in reality, not theory Grandad.
NO long term constantly injured player is ANY USE EITHER. And THAT, Grandad is the WHOLE point of my post.
Joh you still didn’t get his point correctly.
Oh yes I did. But I found it pointless and not dosed in reality, as my reply post to Grandad made clear.
My fine intellect aids me to understand almost all posts, unless written in hard to decipher English, as increasingly happens on JA.
But please, I understand that you are keen to give me your VERSION of what YOU thought his point was . So pray go ahead, young man!
Jon he is simply saying arsenal needs an upgrade and if we have to consider going into the market then it has to be a quality player similar to Partey. Everything isn’t all about English.
Btw I never mentioned being a young man to you. Peace Broda
I have never seen a more arrogant character on here. You claimef to be quite an intellectual but conversely you have managed to demonstrate a certain degree of lack of intelligence by completely missing the point of Grandad’s post, which was merely stating we need another player in the mould of partey who has superior abilities to the two players being linked to arsenal. And please feel free to comment about my frailty of my Grammar. PS.. I’m no native English speaker.
IMO I would prefer someone who does the dirty work. In the mould of Doucoure of Everton. Strong and athletic. It’s high time we get more physical players in.
IMO, our major problem against Villa was converting our chances and assigning Rice the box to box role, as he had to sit in the No6 role with minimal forward movement,
If only we could get a Partey like replacement, Kalvin Phillips should be fair enough.