Arsenal believes they have just recruited one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, and the Gunners are not the only team to think. With Liverpool, Man City, Real Madrid and Barca, the level of Martin Zubimendi has been confirmed.
Zubimendi won the Euro with Spain last year and shone at both the club and the national level, helping the British teenage team – Real Sociedad – won the King's Cup title and played a key role in the journey to return to the Champions League last season.
There are many admirable points in Zubimendi. The 26 -year -old is excellent when there is and without the ball, combining intelligence with superior technique and physical foundation hidden in the midfielder position, where he is both a split machine and a shield in front of the defense.
But that is not all. The impression that the former coach and teammates left when talking about Zubimendi was in a strong personality, no less prominent compared to skills and physical.
“Martin is a perfect person, as well as a comprehensive player,” Aidor Zulaika – former Sociedad's B coach and was the assistant of Xabi Alonso – shared with Sky Sports.
“He converges 4 rare qualities: very modest, simple, but also full of pride and strong personality. Not many players own all that at the same time. But Martin is such a person.”
Benoit cachenaut, the center -back played with Zubimendi in the C Sociedad team, also used the same word: “He is always a comprehensive player: technical, agile, smart and strong.”
“You can clearly see that he has enough qualities to reach the highest level. But besides the talent of the pitch, Martin is also a very humble person, always smiling and friendly.”
Cachenaut still remembered the time Zubimendi visited England in the hospital after his knee surgery – one of the few teammates doing so. It is the interest that Zubimendi shows both in and in the yard.
“He is very disciplined, working seriously,” Zulaika added. “Smart, listen to the coach, behave politely with everyone.”
Carlos Martinez – the former defender must have more than 200 matches for Sociedad – also impressed from the first time Zubimendi played the football: “As soon as we saw Martin play, everyone realized he had something different – something that made people play football like us pay attention. That's the way he passed the ball, is the confidence that emanates early.”
Zubimendi then had more than 200 appearances for the team of Sociedad. As an exemplary player, his personality is the key factor that makes Arsenal convinced. Gunners need such a player in position 6.
In addition, Arsenal also needs a person who can replace the experience and qualities of Thomas Partey and Jorginho – two people who have just left the club. Even younger, Zubimendi is the player who leads by action, suitable for that role.
Equally important, he is very suitable for coach Mikel Arteta – not only professional but also in the background. Both grew up in San Sebastian, played for Sociedad and started his career at the same amateur club: Antiguoko.
Arteta took advantage of this harmony to create a strong link in the negotiation process, playing a decisive role in persuading Zubimendi to join Arsenal.
'Like Alonso than Arteta'
Arteta was soon recognized as a future talent from the early days in Antiguoko and then joined Barca's La Masia furnace at the age of 15. Zubimendi was different, at first he did not stand out.
“He is very timid, the condition is still poor,” Roberto Montiel – Vice President of Antiguoko Club – recalled. “Sociedad once refused to sign a contract with him after a few probation trials. It was only when we said that Atletico was also interested, they decided to sign a contract.”
By then, Zubimendi improved physically and began to show his talent. “He is both legs, quick thinking and always choosing the right position,” Montiel said. “He is like Xabi Alonso in the way of seeing the match.”
Montiel has a reason to compare such: he has trained both Alonso and Arteta. Later, Alonso was also the Zubimendi trainer in the B Sociedad team. The bond from Antiguoko continues when Zubimendi is now preparing to work with Arteta at Arsenal.
“I think Martin is more like Xabi than Mikel – both in personality and play,” Montiel said. “Like Xabi, he passed the ball well, made a reasonable decision, was good at robbing the ball and shielding. But he was an introvert like Xabi, while Mikel was more open and exciting.”
That timidness was gradually replaced by confidence when Zubimendi developed in the Sociedad Academy. “From the first year, he played well. But by the second year (U16), he really exploded,” Montiel said.
“Everyone in the club also knows he will go to the first team,” Zulaika added. “Skills are still like now: Control of the match, pass the ball, cut the ball very well. He can pass short, long, lead the ball, shot, dispute, intercept in the ground and in the air.”
“When he went to Team B, even though he played with people greater than 3-4 years old, he did not flinch. No talk much, but to spoke up. When he won the main kick, no one could get it.”
Zubimendi also quickly became a pillar in the first team, the most minute player of Sociedad in the last 3 seasons. However, the most obvious evidence for his ability to play under his pressure was in the Euro final last year, when the 26 -year -old midfielder replaced Rodri in the second half against him and played extremely impressive.
“He is not afraid to accept the ball, dare to lead the ball, full of confidence,” Martinez recalled.
“He just does not kick because he is behind the best person in the world,” Zulaika said. “We all know that Zubimendi is good, but must be shown in the big stage – and he did it.”
'He can kick for any team in the world.'
The performance in front of him was the perfect model of Zubimendi's comprehensive ability: cutting the ball, passing through the route, leading the attack – all of which were peak.
These qualities are what Arsenal is yearning. Zubimendi is good at keeping the ball rotation, starting from deep, and especially thinking up – always seeking to accelerate the speed of the match.
“It is great to kick behind him. He always asks for the ball, never afraid to risk,” Cachenaut said.
The statistics support this statement. In the season 2024/25, 31.39% of Zubimendi's pass is the upward direction – higher than Partey, Jorginho or Declan Rice. Lower accurate pass rate (84.42%) is also because he dared to play risky.
In La Liga, only 4 midfielders own more passes more than Zubimendi, and all of Barca, Real Madrid or Atletico (Pedri, Valverde, De Paul and Bellingham). The sharpness in the implementation of Zubimendi will be very useful for Arsenal – the team that has difficulty piercing the defensive defense in the last season.
“I think Zubimendi is the type of player that Arsenal lacks,” Montiel said. “They have Rice, Merino, Odegaard, but lacks a person who can play one or two from the defense to the middle line. Zubimendi does that, and read the match very well.”
“No doubt,” Zulaika agreed. “Premier League, La Liga or Euro, he is enough. I don't see many people better than him in this position.”
“He reminds me of Alonso – once very successful in the Premier League – and is still very good at tactics,” Martinez added. “Can play center -back, defender if needed. He understands the deep match. If you ask me: Martin is ready.”
