Arsenal finally land Zubimendi in £50m swoop – but fans aren't exactly dancing in the streets

By Lewis Barnett 10 May, 2025 6 mins read 127 Views

God. It's finally happened. After what feels like seventeen years of speculation (okay fine, just since last summer), Arsenal have reportedly agreed to cough up the full £50m release clause for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi.

I've been tracking this saga since Arteta first started making those little googly eyes at the Spanish midfielder last year. Remember when we all thought it would happen in January? Yeah, that was fun. My mate Dave still owes me £30 for that particular piece of transfer "insight."

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The Deal Nobody Saw Coming (Except Literally Everyone)

According to Fabrizio Romano – who, let's be honest, probably has a direct line to Edu's bathroom at this point – the Gunners have finally stopped messing about and agreed to pay teh full release clause. £50 million. Not exactly loose change, is it?

The 26-year-old Spaniard has apparently given Arsenal the verbal thumbs-up as well, with a "long-term" contract in the works. Whatever that means these days. Five years? Eight? Until the heat death of the universe?

Arsenal now need to take "formal steps" to trigger the release clause, which I assume involves sending a carrier pigeon to San Sebastián with a cheque attached to its leg.

Wait... but do we actually need him?

This is where things get interesting. And by interesting, I mean potentially problematic.

Zubimendi is class, no doubt. Technical, composed, tactically intelligent – all that good stuff. But £50m for a player who essentially does what Partey and Rice already do? I'm not convinced. And judging by my Twitter feed this morning, neither are about 60% of Arsenal supporters.

Back in 2018, I watched Zubimendi in a youth tournament in Spain. Even then you could see the talent. Calm under pressure. Never rushed. Almost Busquets-like in his positioning.

The Arteta Masterplan™

Look, I trust Mikel. The man could tell me he's planning to play Ramsdale as a false nine and I'd probably nod along sagely. But spending £50m on another midfielder when we desperately need a clinical striker feels... questionable.

Unless...

Is this a sign that Partey's definitely on his way out? Or is Arteta planning some revolutionary tactical system that requires seventeen defensive midfielders all playing at once?

My editor just messaged me: "Stop being so negative, he's quality." Fair enough.

The Spanish Connection

One thing's undeniable – Arteta loves bringing in his compatriots. First Odegaard (okay, he's Norwegian, but played in Spain, close enough), then Merino, now Zubimendi. At this rate, we'll be fielding an entire XI of La Liga exports by 2026.

Not that I'm complaining. Spanish technical education plus Premier League physicality has proven a pretty effective combo.

The real question is whether Zubimendi can adapt quickly. The Premier League isn't exactly known for giving newcomers a gentle bedding-in period. Just ask Kai Havertz about his first few months.

So... yay?

I spent $4K on season tickets last year, so I feel entitled to my mixed emotions here. On one hand: quality player, prime age, perfect Arteta profile. On the other: fifty. million. pounds.

For a defensive midfielder.

When we still need a striker who can actually, you know, score goals consistently.

But hey, what do I know? I once thought Gervinho was going to be our savior.

The deal isn't officially done yet – this is Arsenal after all, where nothing is simple – but it looks like Zubimendi will be our first summer signing.

And if he helps us finally overtake City... well, I'll happily eat my words. With ketchup.

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The offside rule is a fundamental aspect of football aimed at preventing players from gaining an unfair advantage. A player is in an offside position if any part of their head, body, or feet is in the opposing team's half of the pitch, closer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent (typically the last outfield player) at the moment the ball is played to them. It's important to note that being in an offside position is not an offense in itself, but it becomes an offense if the player actively involves themselves in the play, gains an advantage, or interferes with an opponent while in that position.

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Statistics

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How To

How To Become a Football Expert Defender

To become an expert defender, you need to have a good understanding of the tactical positioning as well as the ability read the game. Practice jockeying and tackle drills to improve your one-on-1 defending. By learning how to judge flight paths and doing heading drills, you can enhance your aerial ability. For a well-organized backline, you need to improve your communication with other defenders. Learn from professional defenders about their defensive styles and how to apply them to your own game.