After an injury-hit season noticed the Gunners end second once more within the Premier League, Arsenal fought off main competitors to safe the signing of Actual Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
However who’s the Spaniard, what’s going to he carry to the aspect and why is he costing £55 million? Phil Costa studies.
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For a few years, it felt like getting Martin Zubimendi out of San Sebastian can be an inconceivable activity. That is somebody who took their first breath in Donostia and if right down to him, would take his final (and the a whole lot of hundreds of thousands in between) in that very same, humid air with little fuss. These with data of the area and its individuals will realise this isn’t unusual.
However it hasn’t been for the need of attempting. First it was Barcelona who noticed their advances rebuffed, then it was Arsenal, Actual Madrid, and eventually Liverpool who got here closest of all final summer season after agreeing to pay his €60 million buyout clause in full – earlier than the participant rejected the transfer.
Nevertheless, after 236 appearances and practically 18,000 minutes performed for his boyhood membership, the 26-year-old has agreed to hitch Arsenal within the data that he wants a brand new problem and La Actual themselves should rebuild with their supervisor and sporting director additionally leaving this summer season. He definitely departs with their blessing after serving to to carry Champions League soccer and silverware again to Anoeta for the primary time in 34 years; as a product of their well-known Zubieta academy no much less.
So, what do Zubi do?
He’s very a lot the quantity six for Actual Sociedad, midfield anchor, lone pivot, nonetheless you wish to name it; the man sitting in entrance of the again 4 tasked with defending them defensively whereas concurrently holding an vital function in construct up. Zubimendi isn’t actually a deep-lying playmaker who makes 110 passes-per-game at 95% completion charge, or a destroyer who darts round like an assault canine, snapping into challenges and hoovering up unfastened balls – however extra a hybrid of each.
The 26-year-old can look a bit untidy at instances on account of how La Actual play (it was additionally a tough season for them which skews the numbers), and infrequently hits the ball excessive, first time into area the place their forwards can break in transition. Nevertheless, that’s to not say he can’t be cuter in possession. Based on SkillCorner information, Zubimendi averaged the second-most line breaking passes in LaLiga (141) final season with solely Barcelona midfielder Pedri making extra (163); and simply 4 midfielders made extra progressive passes than him.
His shorter sport is likely to be troublesome to analyse at first, as a result of he doesn’t get on the ball or make as many passes as different gamers on this place. However Zubimendi sometimes excels as a reference level, scuttling throughout or dropping between the centre backs to supply options for gamers being pressed, earlier than bouncing the ball again in a single or two touches and going once more. The midfielder may not all the time play precisely, however he all the time appears to be like to play shortly (and confidently on each toes) which may present a welcome antidote for the horseshoe of dying.
He’s additionally comfy progressing by way of carrying, with a pointy turning radius and burst to get away from individuals from his personal defensive third; boasting a 68% profitable take-on proportion which not solely places him clear of each different Arsenal midfielder – however within the 93rd percentile throughout the highest 5 European leagues, per FBref information.
For me, the worth in Zubimendi stems from his appreciation of the fundamentals. There may be apparent consideration positioned on his physique positioning, the place he receives the ball and the way he ought to cross to his teammates. There’s additionally nuance in his sport about the place he stands, understanding when to hurry up play, understanding when to go direct, the tempo and weight of his passes, and the place his affect is most wanted to go well with completely different sport states or opposition.
Which is why, tactically, this opens up alternatives as a result of although Thomas Partey (or Jorginho) are lone sixes on paper, Arsenal often drop any individual in to assist assist construct up, whether or not it’s an inverted left again, Declan Rice and even Martin Odegaard. The 26-year-old is completely comfy because the lone pivot; he’s executed it for each membership and nation and in principle, ought to push all people additional ahead, away from construct up, to areas the place they’re extra more likely to trigger points for the opposition.
There may be additionally potential for a extra pure double pivot with Rice, who can assist the Spaniard with out having to babysit and nonetheless do all of the issues he’s good at – like squeezing groups, hoovering up second balls and denying the opposition an exit route. And in the event that they do discover one; let me introduce you to his mates; William Saliba and Gabriel. Zubimendi may leap out of his area to assist the press and power excessive turnovers ought to alternatives current themselves.
Defensively, there’s lots to love concerning the midfielder and his studying of the sport. Most individuals consider deep midfielders as firefighters; banging and crashing into tackles, blocking pictures and placing their our bodies on the road – Zubimendi is the man who makes certain these fires don’t occur within the first place.
He’s very positionally conscious, consistently scanning to gauge a picture of the pitch and the place his teammates are standing to anticipate their wants. The 26-year-old isn’t any individual who goes in search of the ball, he prefers to face his floor and minimize off passing lanes with delicate physique motion, which successfully forces the opposition into making the choice he desires them to make. As soon as they’re led into congested areas or in direction of the touchline, that’s when he turns into extra aggressive and tigerish in his makes an attempt to win the ball again.
Solely Jon Aramburu (103) accomplished extra tackles than Zubimendi for La Actual final season (73), whereas his 44 interceptions have been away from every other teammate, which highlights a capability to get caught in when wanted and likewise problem precisely. The midfielder is squeaky clear in direct contact, with a robust sense of timing and appears to pinch the ball away from individuals as an alternative of clattering all people and their ancestors out.
Athletically talking, the midfielder is okay throughout the board though I’m curious to see how he handles the step up in physicality and depth, as a result of Barclays-ball is turning into more and more transition heavy, and although this iteration of Arsenal are centred round management, there might be conditions the place he finds himself remoted and his lack of further gears may very well be uncovered. Like most gamers, he’s faster bursting ahead than operating backwards and might be left wanting at instances when stretched.
One other enjoyable factor to notice: standing at just under six foot – which is tall, however not tremendous tall – Zubimendi is monstrous within the air and since making his debut for La Actual six seasons in the past, has the most effective success charge of any midfielder in LaLiga to contest 250 or extra aerial duels (67%). That sound you hear is Nicolas Jover including all his Wyscout clips to a extra non-public stash.
Regardless of Arsenal bagging their latest and much-needed answer in midfield, there are nonetheless reservations about this participant and it’s comprehensible why. Zubimendi isn’t somebody that dazzles you with apparent match-winning high quality, nor does he leap off the web page statistically which has led individuals to query: what makes him ok to not solely anchor this crew, however push them over the road with Premier League and Champions League ambitions?
In fact, there’s a world wherein he can’t do this and struggles to satisfy what’s required on the highest degree. However my thoughts retains going again to 1 factor: what number of England followers rubbed their fingers along with glee when Rodri was pressured off and changed by Zubimendi within the EURO 2024 last final July? I’m certain most did, however I’m additionally certain that almost all of these followers bear in mind him looking down Cole Palmer like a heat-seeking missile and selecting his pocket on midway, or striding away from Jude Bellingham in midfield to create an opportunity for Mikel Oyarzabal.
There was one other second late on the place some sharp pondering put him in place to dam an Ollie Watkins shot (the sport was nonetheless tied at that time), which makes his half time introduction all of the extra spectacular; having the ability to come right into a sport of that magnitude and never solely match the tempo – however stamp your authority on it – in a sometimes understated approach.
And that’s who Arsenal are signing. He’s a participant’s participant. He’s somebody who managers love since you by no means want to fret about his fundamentals, or the place he’s standing as a result of most of the time – he’s doing them simply the way you need them executed.
That’s why Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente referred to as him a “certain wager” who does “all the pieces you ask of him”. It’s why (now departing) Actual Sociedad supervisor Imanol Aguacil mentioned he can be “nearly inconceivable to switch”, with Spanish icon Xavi labelling him “a participant who instructions conditions with and with out the ball” after attempting to signal him for Barcelona throughout his time in control of the membership.
Recruitment won’t ever be an actual science however Zubimendi provides chunk, bounce and readability to an ageing midfield group in want of all three. Fortunately, there’s greater than a slice of house on this Arsenal crew which ought to ease his preliminary transition, but in addition present a platform to assist carry this membership Basque again the place they belong.
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