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Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi has admitted that constantly sitting on the bench is “not ideal” as Chelsea and Real Madrid circle.
The Spain international has gone from virtually being one of Mikel Arteta’s favourite players to a benchwarmer over the past 12 months. Last summer, Arsenal finally managed to get their hands on Zubimendi, signing him from Real Sociedad for €70 million.
Arteta had been chasing him for years, and rumour has it that he played a role in the 27-year-old’s decision to turn down a move to Liverpool in 2024. When Zubimendi finally rocked up in North London, he immediately became a key player.
His signing allowed Arteta to unleash Declan Rice in a more advanced position. This initially worked a charm, but Zubimendi became increasingly jaded as the season wore on, which is perhaps understandable considering the minutes he had racked up domestically and in Europe.
The Basque’s fatigue allowed Myles Lewis-Skelly to get a chance to impress in midfield, and he seized his opportunity with both hands. The youngster has not relinquished his place since – to the detriment of Zubimendi.
Zubimendi is too good to be a substitute
This season, the midfielder has had to make do with a bit-part role. Although he has featured in every game for Arsenal, his only start came against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup.
Zubimendi has racked up fewer than 200 minutes across eight appearances. He has yet to crack the 90-minute mark in the Premier League despite playing in each of Arsenal’s five games.
Despite this lack of minutes, he was called up to Spain’s squad for this international break. It’s a similar story for him on the international break, with Zubimendi having to play second fiddle to Barcelona superstar Rodri.
He got a rare start against Croatia on Tuesday and put in a “masterful” performance in his 72 minutes of action, according to AS. The Spanish outlet waxed lyrical about his display.
“While others were in the spotlight, the team’s control flowed through his boots,” the report stated. “He’s a special player in midfield, always perfectly positioned to receive the ball, and a facilitator for his teammates. Finding him is always a reliable option, and he responds with exquisite precision.”
The fact that he isn’t a regular starter for Spain or Arsenal is an “injustice.” He is not the type of person to cause a scene or kick up a fuss, but it is clear that the current situation is untenable. Zubimendi, the outlet concludes, is simply too good to sit on the bench.
Speaking to RTVE on Friday, the 27-year-old admitted that sitting on the bench is “not ideal” for him. “Obviously, it’s not ideal. We all like to be key players; everyone has a bit of an ego and wants to play,” he said.
He was speaking specifically about his role with Spain, but his comments also apply to his situation at Arsenal. Despite his frustration, Zubimendi insists that he acknowledges that he can’t have it all his own way.
“I’m not naive,” he added. “I understand the context I’m in. I’m with the best national team in the world, with the best defensive midfielder in the world ahead of me.”
The situation remains calm for now, but Zubimendi’s future will come under scrutiny if things don’t change after the international break. If he keeps sitting on the bench at Arsenal, suitors will become bolder.
There has already been talk of interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid. Xabi Alonso is the thread that connects both clubs to Zubimendi. He initially wanted to bring him to Los Blancos last year and remains a huge admirer of his compatriot in his new role at Stamford Bridge.
Alonso, who worked with Zubimendi in Real Sociedad’s reserves, is infatuated with the midfielder. Had he not had a €60 million release clause in San Sebastian, he likely would have tried to sign him for Bayer Leverkusen, too.
Even though Alonso is no longer in charge of Real Madrid, the Spanish giants remain keen on Zubimendi. They missed out on Rodri in the summer and still desperately need a reliable midfield orchestrator. The Arsenal star would be the obvious choice.
