The early rounds of the Carabao Cup are often an ideal opportunity for managers to rest key talent and give minutes to those in need of a start.
It says a lot about Arsenal’s squad depth that they could name a different XI to the one that started on Saturday and have two World Cup winners in midfield.
It feels like a long time ago when Martin Zubimendi’s half-time introduction proved the turning point in the Euro 2024 Final.
His international boss has often referred to the Spaniard as the second best in the world, only behind Rodri in terms of his role.
Reports have never gone away that Real Madrid are admirers of the midfielder, and you do sense eventually an offer may be made that is too good to turn down for someone who is not certain to start every week.
Do Arsenal Fans Appreciate Zubimendi Enough?
So it’s not that the 27-year-old’s ability is not appreciated elsewhere, but maybe not by all of the fanbase of the club he currently plays for.
Most who are Spanish have a desire to one day play at the Bernabeu or for Barcelona, and I wonder if some Gooners are fast-tracking Zubimendi doing so by not appreciating what is in front of them?
This is a footballer too good to be needing a League Cup tie to prove his worth. It’s an insult to someone so good, yet why does it feel like he ended up in this position?
He joined a team that had not lifted the title in 22 years. In his first season in England, not only did he contribute to ending that drought, but he also helped the Gunners reach only their second Champions League Final.
If you had offered all parties that scenario before he moved to North London, most would have called that a success?
Yet the player may have become a victim of his own success?
A Victim Of His Own Success?
Up until May, Zubimendi had played more minutes than any other Gunner.
Think about that for a moment.
Someone used to a winter break every year, at that point in his career and in his first campaign, was not just settling into a new culture but working himself tirelessly into the ground until his body couldn’t take it anymore.
I would love to write that was truly appreciated by all my peers, but perhaps summing up society, the attitude seemed to be: “What have you done for me lately?”
The media are quick to point out when supporters feel an individual is not showing loyalty to the shirt, but it works both ways.
In the run-in, Lewis-Skelly started against Fulham and West Ham in the Premier League. Those were literally his League starts in midfield before the Premiership was officially won.
Yet which one was more celebrated this summer?
The teenager with five Prem starts?
Or the one with… 34 out of 38!!!!!!
So, in other words, why give blood, sweat and tears for months on end when you can do nothing until the last couple of games of the title race?
That’s like applauding a sprinter for crossing the line after running the last 100 metres while ignoring the man who did the whole marathon.
Is Zubimendi Simply Following Arteta’s Instructions?
I understand the accusation that Zubimendi is fond of the sideways pass, but that’s down to Mikel Arteta’s tactics.
A system that works, by the way.
Even if you feel it’s not entertaining, Zubimendi is hardly the only one guilty of being conservative in possession.
So Portman Road feels like a big moment in the season for Zubimendi.
How have we gotten here?
Dan Smith
Have Arsenal supporters been too quick to judge Zubimendi, or do you think criticism of his performances has been justified? Let us know in the comments.
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Zubimendi played well in the first half of last season, before subsequently becoming mediocre. Similar to Gyokeres, at least Zubimendi helped Arsenal a lot for around five months last year to win EPL and reach UCL final
I believe he’s more suited to be a CAM or mezzala instead of a CDM, because of his lack of physicality
Unfortunately, now he needs to compete with Rice and Guimaraes for a starting position. I think Lewis-Skelly is currently behind him in the pecking order, because of the boy’s mediocre performance in our last two games
We wouldn’t have won the Premier League without Gyokeres 14 goals. He also contributed 21 total goals.
That’s not terrible for his first year.
Henry scored 17 PL Goals in his first season
So he also made an important contribution
He wasn’t productive at making goals and assists, because he just scored 16 open play goals from 55 appearances and didn’t make any assist
I’m sure Henry made at least 5 assists in his first season
However, Gyokeres improved his hold-up play in the second half of last season and that helped us a lot to dominate the games
The most jarring stuff about the Swedish are his reluctance to engage in aerial duels despite his tall stature and his highly inconsistent touches
Gyokeres isn’t really suited to Arsenal, because most of our oppositions play low block against us but his playing style requires plenty of space in the final third to run into
I believe Arteta’s tactics are also more suitable for false nine who can help our midfield to win the ball and dictate the tempo
He’s a very good player,one of the best in his position. It was remarkable how he was able to adapt to the league immediately. But with Arteta not trusting Norgaard,he got burned out and his performances and confidence plummeted.
He’s looked good whenever he’s come on recently. His competitor is now Rice and it might be tricky for him to start regularly. He will probably leave next summer because he’s too good to be a bench player. He starts for 99% of the top teams and there are teams like Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid that need a player of his quality.
What people tend to overlook is how fatigue effects every player differently.
Mac allister at liverpool in the title winning season, was brilliant all over the pitch , yet last season you could see the effects of being over played, along with having to cover more ground due to wirtz effectively being a player less. At the world cup we saw moments of what he could do… but still he looked spent.
Zubimendi hit the ground running last season but by mid Feb was done.
We saw him play rb in the final game of the season, some game time against psg, and minutes at the world cup.
I feel arteta is managing him, clearly he has seen something that shows him Zubimendi isn’t perhaps ready to start.
Fatigue effects players mentally also – people tend to overlook that.
Rice has miraculously got over his nerve issue – which i find odd. Myles has had the whole summer off and is fit ready to go. Guimares had a slight issue also.
As for those stating myles should be dropped because of his performance against Sunderland, you guys know nothing. He was up against a well organised team and he saw that regardless of his talent he has to work out a way to overcome those he is against.
We have the most reactionary fan base, its unbelievable
I’ll take Skelley any day. Although he is still learning and prone to the add head snap, Skelley provides more energy and thrust that Zubamendi ever will. Without Rice around to tidy up for his lack of physicality Zubamendi would already have become a serious liability. If any one should have been moaning about tiredness and being overworked, it should have been Rice.
I don’t think Skelly is competing Zubimendi but Bruno. Zubimendi is competing Rice. Rice is not new to the league so it’s not a fair comparison. He’s used to the demands of the Prem.
Rice is also a Physical unicorn. There’s hardly any midfielder in the world with his athleticism. I don’t think Zubimendi struggled with physicality overall. He struggled with recovery speed. This is something virtually all Rice partners have struggled with. In counter attacking situations, all of Partey,Jorginho,Zubimendi,Myles and Bruno have been exposed for lack of recovery pace that you get from Declan. But this is why he cost £100m + and the others didn’t.
I do believe he has struggled with the physicality of the league and if it doesn’t improve he will be a continuing and potentially damaging liability when playing as a 6.
How were we so hard to beat in the first half of last season if he was a liability? This is a player who was winning headers over Dan Burn last season. And for the first time in a while ,we were able to beat a Physical Newcastle at St James Park.
There’s only one aspect of physicality he struggles with- recovery pace.
Mainly because everyone else and the team organization is just that good. Disagree entirely with your assessment. Rice must play deep and if Zubimendi is played he must be further forward where he can be effective and not a potential liability as the opponent threatens the back line.
Latest discussions arise because of our current and fair squad depth and the many options we have.
MLS is brilliant and needs more playing time to keep improve consistency. He can only get better through playing him than having him on the bench. He makes lovely drives through opponent midfields, he’s brilliant!!
Zubie is great also and gives us options in different games.
Gyokeres is great with his 21 goals last season and that he really loves Arsenal. We can build on all these aspects of team depth which are, of course, for MA to manage the best way possible. Not sure how he’s currently doing with it
There is such strong competition amongst this Arsenal squad that those in the best form are selected. Hence the exclusion of Zubamendi. There will be many opportunities for him with many games to play and the inevitable injuries that will occur during the season.
May I remind fans that Zubimendi was signed on the insistence of our Manager, so if he fails to measure up, it is a reflection of poor judgement by Arteta. Personally, i think he is a very fine player who seems to be much maligned for his ability to retain possession which is essential to controlling the game.The World Cup final was a classic example of Spain being able to nullify a French team which probably was superior in terms of individual ability but we’re unable to keep the ball for any length of time.
For me he was good for three quarters of the season, and then I think the season caught up with him. And now he currently finds himself down the pecking order.
Dan, I have to disagree with you’re quote that it’s an insult for him to need a League cup game to prove himself. With him currently being down the pecking order, it happens to be a League Cup tie that gives him the chance to remind the manager of his capabilities.
No ones to big not to play in what are considered lesser competitions.
As I’ve said on two earlier occasions, he’s just currently down the pecking order. When his chance comes, it’s down to him to take it.
Zubimendi played a big part in the title win last season – he was consistently good up until the final stretch, where fatigue seemed to set in, and he scored a few crucial goals. Unfortunately it is part of the game – with some players, it’s harder to see what they bring, particularly when their game is based heavily on tactical understanding and keeping control of the ball, rather than spectacular goals, dribbles or passes. Zubimendi has definitely suffered a bit for that and did deserve far more credit for his role in the title win. That said, things change – he has respect but that doesn’t guarantee his place in the team. Competition is fierce, so he has to prove himself again.
Conversely, I believe a key reason MLS was so celebrated at the end of the season is that he plays with a bit more risk and personality, and that felt like a breath of fresh air during the most pressurised part of the season. Just the odd disguised through pass or dribble through a tight space makes such a difference to the crowd. I actually think that side to the game is also extremely valuable – you want players who are extremely competent at their role like zubimendi, but you also want players who can break the mould a little bit (not saying MLS is a maverick, he just occasionally does things others can’t or wouldn’t think to do).
Davi,
Good post. 👍
This is a by-product of having depth.
The problem is, Arteta doesn’t seem to want to rotate (at least from what we’ve seen in the past).
I am hoping he utilizes the squad better this season, firstly to keep legs decently fresh, but to also keep players happy.
I don’t see anyone in the senior team that I don’t trust enough to start (okay maybe Kepa)… Madueke maybe in terms of output, but he can hold an end. It doesn’t necessarily make me nervous when I see his name on the team sheet.
Kia,
Regards you’re talking of better rotation. I hope that Rice is nowhere near the team tonight.
If he play’s or is on the bench, then it would seem that Arteta never learns.👍
100% agree regarding Rice Derek, possibly add Odegaard to that as well.
Not much we can do regarding defensive options to rotate as I am not sure if Mosquera is fit, and Marli Salmon I don’t think is ready just yet. I am all for trusting young players in mid-field and attack, but in defense it’s a bigger risk imo.
Well said,Derek and Kia.Salmon looks a very promising defender but to play him in what will be a competitive Cup tie, particularly away from home,would not be a good idea .Ideally, youngsters should be blooded at home where they will have the backing of their own crowd.
Grandad and Kia,
I concur. 👍
What are the results of his performances and his production? I don’t care what the name is, where they come from, their nationality, or what some international manager says.
He had dead legs by Christmas and Arteta gave him time off; not a good sign for us if he is gassed already; compared to other players who were not.
Secondly, he is not as press resistant as advertised, and MLS is more direct and forward in his play than Zubimendi. I find it hard to believe that Arteta limits an experienced midfielder with sideways passing and control, yet give a much younger and less experienced player free roam in the midfield and a liscense to play direct and forward.
So far Zubimendi is not a good fit for the PL, it happens. Perhaps he can adapt and evolve this year, but if not then he should be replaced; very expensive 4th or 5th choice right now; not sure I would bench Merino in favor of Zubimendi
Zubimendi has been used as a DM by Arteta whilst, thankfully, MLS has not.In essence ,we are not comparing like for like.In addition ,Zubimendi is acknowledged as first back up for the best DM on the planet by the Manager of the best international side in the World, whilst MLS is not held in the same esteem by the England international Manager, and I very much doubt if he will even be in the frame for the next batch of international matches with the likes of Mainoo, Scott , Miley and Wharton much superior than him in my opinion.