Arsenal make their stance clear on Martin Zubimendi amid Real Madrid links
Martin Zubimendi’s situation at Arsenal is complicated right now.
The Spaniard has actually been playing really well in his limited appearances, but considering he was the only Arsenal player to have featured in every single Premier League game last season, therein lies the problem.
After losing his starting spot to Myles Lewis-Skelly at the end of last season and then the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, Zubimendi has fallen down the pecking order in the engine room.
Reports emerged earlier this month that the Spaniard could push for a January exit if his minutes don’t improve. His only start of the season has come in the Carabao Cup against Ipswich, and his longest Premier League cameo so far is just 23 minutes. For a World Cup winner signed for around £60million last summer, that is a difficult situation to accept.
Claims from Spain have since gone further — journalist Javi Roldan declaring on X that “Zubimendi is going to be Madrid’s signing in the winter window.” But an update has now emerged which firmly contradicts that.
Arsenal intend to keep Martin Zubimendi
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Arsenal have no intention of selling Zubimendi in January. Despite the Spaniard’s unhappiness with his lack of gametime, Arteta is keen to keep his entire squad intact as Arsenal compete for trophies on multiple fronts. The manager believes Zubimendi will become more involved as the season progresses.
That’s good, then. Selling a player of Zubimendi’s quality midway through a season where Arsenal are competing on four fronts would be an act of self-sabotage, especially to a Champions League rival.
His performance at right-back against Ipswich has opened up an intriguing new option for Arteta, with Ben White injured and Jurrien Timber still managing his return from a groin problem. The two-games-a-week schedule has well and truly kicked in, so Zubimendi will get plenty of opportunities. Perhaps his way back into the team is actually at full-back. Whether he will be happy playing there is another matter.
But as far as a January move away is concerned, Real Madrid, Chelsea and whoever, can look elsewhere.