Arteta commitment makes Real Madrid rethink Zubimendi interest

Mikel Arteta has made clear that Arsenal have no intention of allowing Martin Zubimendi to leave, dealing a fresh blow to Real Madrid’s hopes of signing the Spanish midfielder.

Zubimendi had been linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent weeks, particularly after the Spanish club failed to complete a deal for Rodri Hernandez, who chose to join Barcelona instead.

However, Arteta’s public backing suggests Zubimendi is moving away from Real Madrid’s list of preferred options. The Arsenal manager described the 27-year-old as an important part of his squad and stressed the contribution he made during the season.

Zubimendi’s role diminished towards the end of the campaign and he was named among the substitutes for several matches. Arteta, though, insisted that the reduction in his playing time was not a reflection of a loss of faith in the midfielder.

“Without a doubt, he was one of Arsenal’s best players last season,” said Arteta. “If it were not for him, we would not have reached the position we were in during the final weeks.”

The manager said the decision to limit Zubimendi’s minutes was instead driven by the need to manage his physical workload. The midfielder had played a large number of matches across the campaign, prompting the coaching staff to reduce his involvement during its decisive stages in order to prevent fatigue.

“We cannot repeat what we did and then reach the final part of the season with him having already played 55 matches,” Arteta said. “We cannot allow that to happen again at this level.”

Arteta also rejected the idea that Arsenal’s interest in signing further midfielders would represent a lack of confidence in Zubimendi. He said new arrivals would give the club more options and allow it to manage players’ workloads throughout the season.

“Now I will think about how to raise the player’s level so that I can repeat what he did last year, but for 11 months. That is all,” Arteta said in comments reported by Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

The remarks are a clear indication that Arteta wants to keep Zubimendi at Arsenal rather than consider his departure. The manager’s focus is on helping the midfielder return to his best form and ensuring he remains fit and available throughout the campaign.

Real Madrid had monitored Zubimendi previously, before his name returned to prominence as a possible alternative when their efforts to sign Rodri stalled. Arteta’s stance could now force the Spanish club to look elsewhere for a midfield solution.

For Arsenal, Zubimendi remains an important part of the project for the new season, despite the competition for places in midfield and the club’s intention to strengthen that area.

Readers can discuss this and other football news in greater depth on the “Kooora” forums.