Arteta Praises Zubimendi’s Commitment After Arsenal Signing

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Martin Zubimendi turned down “very good opportunities” elsewhere to join Arsenal, praising the midfielder’s impressive start since his arrival in north London.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Martin Zubimendi became Arsenal’s first major signing of the summer, arriving in a deal worth around £51 million after Arsenal triggered his release clause from Real Sociedad. Arteta shared that the Spanish midfielder had several tempting options but chose Arsenal after a long recruitment process. “He left some very good opportunities to come to us and he’s very impressive. We are all very impressed with what we’ve seen in the last seven to ten days,” said Arteta. The coach highlighted Zubimendi’s personality, intelligence, and the qualities he has already shown in preseason preparations as Arsenal begin their Asia Tour.

WHY ZUBIMENDI MATTERS FOR ARSENAL

Zubimendi fills a significant gap in Arsenal’s midfield after the departure of Thomas Partey. While Declan Rice has been crucial for Arsenal, his best performances came in a box-to-box role, leaving a need for a specialist defensive midfielder. Zubimendi arrives after another strong campaign with Real Sociedad, where he played 43 games last season, scoring three goals and providing four assists. His decision to join Arsenal over other suitors, including Liverpool, underlines the club’s growing pull in the transfer market. After finishing second in the Premier League last season with 70 points, Arsenal hope Zubimendi will provide the stability needed to finally end their five-year silverware drought.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ARSENAL AND ZUBIMENDI?

Arsenal will continue their preseason in Asia, giving Zubimendi time to settle and build partnerships with his new teammates ahead of the 2025–26 campaign. Arteta has hinted there could be more signings as Arsenal look to further strengthen the squad. The Gunners will open their Premier League season against Manchester United soon, eager to turn last season’s near-miss into a title-winning run. Their first fixtures will be crucial, as Arsenal aim to keep pace with rivals at the top and set the tone for a campaign focused on ending their wait for a major trophy.