Martin Zubimendi has still not made his first start of the season for Arsenal, despite the Gunners having already played in the Champions League, the Community Shield and the Premier League.
The midfielder was one of the first names on the team sheet last season as Arsenal won the league title and reached the finals of the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
He was hailed as a transformative signing by the club, as his performances in midfield offered the team plenty of safety and stability. However, he spent much of Spain’s stay at the World Cup on the bench behind Rodri, and he would have been keen to return to the Emirates so that he could get more game time.
That has not happened, as he has remained on the bench, even when new signing Bruno Guimaraes has not started matches. The World Cup winner is now set to make a decision on his future.
Zubimendi’s Arsenal situation
Zubimendi’s lack of starts represents a significant change from last season, when he was regularly trusted in the Arsenal midfield.
The midfielder had established himself as an important part of the team, helping provide the stability that made his performances so valuable to the Gunners.
However, his current situation has raised questions about whether he will remain patient at the Emirates or look for a move if his opportunities do not increase.
According to Football365, Zubimendi is set to leave the Emirates in January and will ask for a transfer if his situation does not change at the club.
Transfer decision could follow
Zubimendi was linked with a move to Chelsea and Real Madrid in the summer, but Arsenal refused to consider a sale.
The club could now open the door for him to leave at the end of this year if his position within the squad remains unchanged.
For Arsenal, losing a player who was previously regarded as a transformative signing would be a major decision, particularly after the midfielder played such an important role last season.
Zubimendi’s next few months could therefore prove crucial, with his future at the Emirates potentially depending on whether he can finally secure regular opportunities in the Arsenal team.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…
I’m very confident Zubimendi gets starts and plays well both in starts and bench cameo’s. No chance of him leaving this year as he’s a very different type of midfielder not easily replaced.
At least we know we have a buyer, Chelsea.
Based on Chelsea’s new transfer strategy, Zooby is about 10 years too young for them.
Chelsea have a buyer. Todd out.
Shame, I was enjoying their civil war and Todd’s Football Manager visits to the dressing room – it helped put them 10th.
Arteta needs to get more players involved in the process, it can’t be that he waits on payers to get an injury, by that then too many rust gathered
@Gunsmoke. Fully agree.
Exactly what I’ve often said. But unfortunately, it’s also one of Arteta’s few weaknesses. I hope he has learned from last season and makes sure to rotate and keep all the players fit. Otherwise, he wears the players down and they get injured or burned out
Absolutely right.
Thers a best 11, but other players are not so far off that it’s not a huge drop off to rotate. In fact an argument is made in two ways for fielding a stronger side on rotation, a tired first 11 player can’t play as well for as long as a fresh back up. Also different matches different opponents call for different tactics. Napoli went like a tortoise into a fortified shell, but ECL first phase games tend to be the opposite home and away opponents normally come out to play, that means space in midfield.
Rice played 69 games last season and wants to again. He is getting painkilling injections for back and hamstring pain. If Rice is not an unused substitute at Sunderland on Saturday, it’s an Arsenal scandal. Rice must not play any part in the next two fixtures.
play him Saturday then rest him midweek
It’s a genuine discussion. I say we should leave Rice out of Prem games too, to lighten his load on back and hamstrings. My argument is based on if you don’t, then the “play him Saturday then rest him midweek” gets taken out of your hands.
Any moment someone is going to post “Arsenal will get knock out of cup next week with much changed side in difficult match.” And it will be Dan’s fault for dropping Rice?
Rotation. It’s a genuine thing for Gooners to get their head round., as anti rotation Arteta is going to get this wrong.
How do the big continental giants who always strong at the business end of season do it? Lots of rotation up till new year, or not?
Looks like Arteta is going the same route again. Not at the top players sanctioned and ignored, major 11 overplayed and overworked and inevitably injuries will come. No plan B for giving breathing space to Tzolis, Havertz and Odegaard……
Zubimendi is a very important player for Arsenal. He’s as important as those playing ahead of him. It’s up to the coach and his selection for each game. It’s a good thing to have all these players available, but he needs to give them playing time
Arsenal depth is causing restless thinking to both the manager and the staff .What am delighted about is that we are no one is guaranteed to start and the lineup is no longer obvious.Despite starting I think Zubi is still making significant contribution from the bench.
Three league matches played and already useless speculations, worse than Spanish media 😁
I don’t think Zubimendi has really settled in the UK and the lack of minutes is probably not helping the situation. Arsenal won’t push him out the door but if RM comes in l think he will be gone. I understand that Alonso would take him but I think his first choice is Spain. Considering it was his first season in the PL l don’t think he did too badly, he is technically very good but he is a bit lightweight and he gets turned over a few too many times. All that said, l am not advocating we sell him, but l would not be shocked if he went.
Should have started against Napoli.
Rice and Moreno doesn’t work. For Moreno to thrive he needs ball players around him like for Spain.
Zubi should leave too just like martinelli did for they are not good enough. I really want to commend arteta’s bravery and ruthlessness for dropping zubi afterall arteta just signed and he’s looking like bad signing( he’s a poor signing to me).
Zubi exposes the midfield , he’s the weak link in that midfield, his performance in the chelshit game summarises his flaws, we get exposed coz he looses the ball often under pressure and the game is a pressure game
I think Zubimendi should be utilized in a role similar to Xavi Hernandez at Barcelona. In front of a defensive midfielder as a pivot. So you may suggest that Odegaard and Guimaraes is the player that prevents him from being a starter. That means essentially these three plus Eze are baying for one position. You could also throw Merino in to the picture. The lack of rotation also points to a lack of trust, and I have said for years that if you cannot trust your replacements, you exoensive squad construction is poor. Martinelli may have needed replacing, but we have to remember this is also a player that played as ancevtre forward and right winger. He’s far much better than Madueke. Eze has not become a failure overnight, and neither has Gyokeres. We simply have a predictable in game strategy and unless you can play the same system as your replacement, you’re a dud. Gyokeres and Eze need systems that allow them to run into space not wait and hold the ball like Havertz. So we need to be tactically flexible and not keep overloading the right side, sending all balls to Saka. Saka, Odegaard, Kai and Rice are all big injury concerns and that would make us all of a sudden look threadbare.
Brilliant post. Hits several nails on the head.
If you are not putting balls in the box for Gyokeres, then save £70M and plant a tree in the box.
Eze strength is attack opponents back line with ball carrying and dribbling – rather like our title rivals Man City and Chelsea do. But in an Arsenal system that’s all about passing the ball into the net.
It just needs to be more of a mix, crossing, dribbling, unless our defensive system breaks down unable to handle frequent turnovers? We are still based on defensive system, not attacking system.
Now I don’t know if there is any truth regards Zubimendi potentially asking to leave in January.
But it does bring a smile to my face when these players start to get stroppy when they’re not picked.
A message to any player that joins a big club, there will be big players competing for you’re place, if you don’t want to compete then go and join a club that will almost guarantee you a first team place.
Although that said, for that to happen you would need to lower you’re expectations on the club you join. It would be a case of big fish in little pond syndrome.
Derek, it may be more like a salmon swimming upstream while getting beat up. I hope he reaches his goal.
Bruised Banana,
😂👍
He had dead legs and was done in by Christmas last year, had trouble coping with the PL fixture list. I would sell because I think MLS would replace him in time anyway. Not a bad player, but not a great one either.
A lot was made about his ability to shield the ball and maintain possession. I did not see that, and quite frankly, MLS is far better at shielding the ball and being more direct and progressive from the midfield.
Zubimendi played a huge part in our title win so it would be sad to see him leave. If we are going to sell, then it has to be in the summer so we can replace him immediately.