Martin Zubimendi's future at Arsenal is uncertain after the club signed Bruno Guimaraes for £75 million, with reports suggesting the Spaniard could be on the move after just one year at the Emirates.
The Brazilian's arrival means one player will have to make way, and reports have emerged that Arsenal have named their price for Zubimendi. This generally only happens for players who could be on the move, unlike Declan Rice, who is considered one of the club's untouchables.
Zubimendi's Role Under Threat
Zubimendi, who was a long-time target for Mikel Arteta before joining from Real Sociedad, started 34 of 38 league games last season but was benched for three of the final four. His minutes were cut, and he experienced the humiliation of being substituted on and then off in the win over West Ham, coming on in the 28th minute for the injured Ben White before being hauled off in the 67th for Kai Havertz.
"It is never easy to do that to a player, especially someone with Martin's quality," Arteta admitted after the game.
Weeks later, Myles Lewis-Skelly was chosen to start the Champions League final against PSG, with Zubimendi on the bench for the entire evening. Managers can talk about a player's value, but what matters is whether they are called upon in crunch time.
Midfield Competition Intensifies
Arsenal have effectively played with two holding midfielders and a number 10, previously Martin Odegaard. With Rice as the pillar and Guimaraes, the second most expensive player in Arsenal's history, expected to start, Zubimendi's place is in question. A flat three in midfield is a possibility, but that would also affect Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Kai Havertz, or eventually Max Dowman.
Arsenal were beaten on penalties by PSG in last season's European Cup final in Budapest, highlighting the need to close the gap in the final third. Guimaraes is the type of player who helps them play through the lines, and their pursuit of Vinicius Junior was well publicised.
New Challenge for Arteta
Arsenal are back among Europe's elite under Arteta, but they now face a new conundrum: who to back. In recent years, no major player has wanted out, but with so many top-class operators, some will inevitably be left out. Zubimendi may be one of the early lessons.
