Player Arsenal signed last summer could now push to leave in January

Arsenal have incredible midfield depth following the summer transfer window.

Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi is an elite quintet for Mikel Arteta to rotate through.

But one of those five isn’t content with being a depth option.

According to TEAMtalk, Zubimendi is prepared to fight for his Arsenal place over the coming months, but his camp have made clear that if his situation hasn’t improved by January, he will push for a move.

Zubimendi has started none of Arsenal’s five competitive games this season. He has featured as a substitute in all of them, including an industrious cameo in the Champions League win at Napoli.

Arteta has spoken to him directly and reassured him of his importance to the squad. But words only go so far when Lewis-Skelly, Rice and Guimaraes are all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Real Madrid looked at him seriously in the summer, while Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso is a known admirer. After Arsenal’s London rivals missed out on Lamine Camara on deadline day, they’re still in the market for a midfielder.

Up to half a dozen clubs are said to have made contact during the summer. The interest isn’t going to go away.

Arsenal should keep Martin Zubimendi until at least the summer

Zubimendi was the only player to feature in every Premier League game last season. His stock may have dropped in the second half of the season but he still played a hugely important role in winning the title.

And even in his cameos this season, he’s looked refreshed and motivated to prove a point. With the two-game-a-week schedule coming thick and fast, Zubimendi will get plenty of opportunities.

If he keeps up the intensity he’s been showing in his substitution appearances, he’ll quickly get starting minutes.

Arteta won’t want to sell him halfway through the season, especially not to a direct Premier League or Champions League rival.

He’ll want to keep hold of the Spaniard until next summer at the very least, where his situation in the squad can be properly assessed then.