Martin Zubimendi could win a Premier League award for what he did against Chelsea
Martin Zubimendi has spent the start of the season on the fringes.
The World Cup winner has played just 80 Premier League minutes across five substitute appearances. The only game he’s started was the Carabao Cup win against Ipswich, and that was at right-back, where he impressed enough to become a genuine option there for Mikel Arteta.
Whether he actually would want to play as a full-back is another matter, but it might actually be his best chance of breaking back into the team. There have been reports of a potential January exit if his minutes don’t improve.
Although he’s been reduced to cameo appearances in the league, every time he’s come on he’s looked like the kind of player Arsenal should be using more. He’s come on with a point to prove, been composed and technically secure, helping see out a couple of the narrow wins in the league. Now, one of those cameos has earned him a nomination for a monthly Premier League award.
Martin Zubimendi nominated for Creative Moment of the Month award
Zubi mendi came on as a sub for Myles Lewis-Skelly midway through the second half against Chelsea with Arsenal leading 2-1. During his cameo he received the ball from Martin Odegaard, found himself tightly marked in the box, and pulled off a clever Cruyff turn to create space for a shot (which was ultimately blocked and came to nothing).
The Premier League — ‘in association with Adobe’ — have decided this qualifies as a ‘Creative Moment of the Month’. You wouldn’t be alone in having never heard of this award before. It is, and we say this with affection, a slightly made-up award. It’s not exactly Dennis Bergkamp against Newcastle, is it?
It’s a lovely piece of skill, though. And it’s a great opportunity for fans to give Zubimendi some deserved recognition given how quietly impressive he’s been when he’s come on. You might as well go and vote for him on the Premier League website.
Zubimendi is clearly too good a player to be sitting on the bench every week. But there’s plenty of games still to play, and it would be a safe bet to assume he’ll be rewarded with some more starting minutes before long.