How Arsenal landed Martin Zubimendi: Real Madrid’s failed propaganda machine, Man City’s brief flirtation and what £51m transfer coup means for Declan Rice

Europe’s elite had registered their interest. Real Madrid tried to swoop in. But Martin Zubimendi was always going to be an Arsenal player.

The 26-year-old midfield maestro has penned a five-year contract with the north London club for £51million following a battle of sorts to seize him.

Liverpool tried to lure the Spaniard away from Real Sociedad last summer after he had indicated interest of a move.

Manchester City were also in the market for Zubimendi to fill in for the then injured Rodri. And more recently, Real Madrid amped up their propaganda machine in June to try tempt him away from north London.

Yet it’s now transpired that Arsenal had approached Real Sociedad about both Mikel Merino and Zubimendi last summer. The Spanish side could ill afford to lose both players at once, so the Gunners offered a solution of buying Merino then and returning for Zubimendi the following summer.

The transfer was agreed and sealed in March. These factors make the Gunners’ swoop for the holding midfielder a real coup. Mail Sport revealed in January that Arsenal had virtually agreed a £51m deal for Zubimendi, but Real Sociedad refused to sell until after the season.

Sunday’s official announcement puts an end to a long-winded saga and gives Arsenal supporters something to get excited about having seen league rivals Liverpool and Man City already splash over £200m and £100m respectively in this window.

The Gunners midfield was already strong, but will now go into next season redefined as one of the most envied across the league – and form the basis of their latest title challenge.

Zubimendi is born and bred in San Sebastian, Spain, the same area as his boss Mikel Arteta. They both played for Real Sociedad – and even started out at the same youth club, Antiguoko. The link invariably helped, both forming an instant and strong connection.

He will also reunite with former Real Sociedad team-mates Martin Odegaard and Merino. Merino is said to have put a good word in about his old mate.

So, why were Arsenal always so keen on Zubimendi? For starters, he is both the answer to their No 6 conundrum and Man City’s Rodri.

It’s an area which Arteta has often struggled to properly pin down since Granit Xhaka’s departure in July 2023. Declan Rice and Kai Havertz arrived in that summer, with both expected to compete for a place in a midfield three alongside Odegaard.

Rice played in the No 6 role for West Ham but has enjoyed a more advanced role in midfield, particularly last season where he stepped up with goals in crunch matches such as his free-kick brace in the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid.

Havertz, meanwhile, struggled to shine in midfield and was soon moved to centre forward where has he flourished, leaving Thomas Partey to often occupy the base of the midfield.

With Partey having left the club, Zubimendi will now play this role – but in a different way. His inclusion will arguably give Rice even more freedom to roam forward and both impact and connect play in the final third, which is an intriguing prospect.

But compared to Partey and Jorginho, he has better mobility, is more press resistant and equally astute in tackling. Arsenal last season struggled to break down defences which were camped in their own half on a regular basis, banking on breaking through off counter-attacks.

Yet Zubimendi has an ability to receive the ball while under intense pressure from opposition players and confidently keep hold of it, and play quick passes between team-mates.

In last season’s La Liga, he ranked in the top five of central midfielders for successful passes, successful long passes, progressive passes, touches, tackles, interceptions, aerial duels won and distance of completed upfield passes. In essence, he is in prime position to become Arsenal’s version of Rodri.

Real Sociedad generally play from the back through short, risky passes, with Zubimendi often the receiver, picking up the ball while facing his own goal. He was, and will likely continue to be, the cog between the defence and midfield as the deepest player of a midfield three.

When Liverpool came calling, Zubimendi, a keen mountain climber, was shown pictures of Mount Urgull, one of several peaks he likes to hike up in the area.

That waspish ability to pass, pass and pass typifies a man who is said to be humble and hard working. He grew up in San Sebastian, a charming coastal city between the Urgull and Igeldo mountains, rising through the Real Sociedad reserve teams from the age of 12.

He shone against players three or four years older than himself, before becoming an integral first-team starter, playing more minutes than any other outfield player for the La Liga side across the last three seasons.

His real moment of shine to a more global audience was arguably when he came on for an injured Rodri at half-time of Spain’s Euro 2024 final win over England in Germany.

The midfielder got stuck into challenges and zipped passes through the lines to drive Spain forward in their 2-1 victory. Crucially, there didn’t appear to be a drop off in light of Rodri’s departure, just sheer quality.

Zubimendi’s arrival may just be the signing that reignites Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge once again – and leave both Liverpool and Man City ruing their missed opportunity.