Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta has had Martin Zubimendi on his want list since two transfer windows ago, Kieran Tierney, who is familiar with both of them, recently gave him an excellent evaluation.
Mikel Arteta already has high expectations for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, but he may take note of comments made by the Gunners’ own Kieran Tierney.
The Scotland star Tierney is still under contract with Arsenal, although he is presently playing on loan at Real Sociedad of La Liga. The former Celtic player is hoping some time in San Sebastian can jump-start his career after spending a large portion of his time at the Emirates sidelined by fitness concerns.
Tierney has had the opportunity to get a close-up look at Zubimendi, a player who has been heavily linked to Arsenal over the last two transfer windows, during this time with Sociedad. The 25-year-old Spanish international’s technical skill has drawn Arteta’s attention.
As an Arsenal fan, Tierney’s remarks about his teammates at Sociedad are worth reading. In a recent interview with the Guardian, the left-back explicitly mentioned Zubimendi as one of the players deserving of recognition.
“You have world-class players like Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, and Brais Mendez,” the Scotsman clarified. It’s not that people don’t think highly of them; it’s just difficult to tell if all you watch each week is the Premier League. They are elite in the globe.”
Even though Arteta spent £105 million on Declan Rice as a new midfield player in the summer, it appears that his midfield makeover is still ongoing. It has been suggested that Zubimendi may take Thomas Partey’s place should the always injured Ghanaian be sold in the summer.
According to numerous reports, Zubimendi’s release clause is worth a comparatively small £51 million. The Sociedad star may have to make a decision about his club future if the Gunners are sincere in their pursuit of him.
With Rice receiving so much midfield rotation for Arsenal this season—Jorginho, Partey, and Kai Havertz have all lined up next to him—Arteta is eager to add a player who can partner the club’s record-signing on a weekly basis.
Regarding his own future, 26-year-old Tierney has kept his options open. When asked if he thought of a long-term comeback to Arsenal, the left-back said, “It’s difficult to say.” I had a great two years there, and my contract is still in effect.
I am really appreciative of Arsenal. I’m not sure what lies ahead, but I’m having so much fun here. I think I’ve adjusted rather well, and I hope I can repay the club’s faith. World-class players make up an incredibly gifted team, many of whom are academy graduates. It’s a fantastic tale.”