Martin Zubimendi Endures Difficult Start to Arsenal Season After Freak Injuries
Martin Zubimendi must be wondering what he has done to get on the wrong side of Lady Luck. The current campaign is only 15 games old, but the midfielder has suffered so much misfortune you wonder if he smashed a mirror celebrating Spain winning the World Cup in the summer.
Zubimendi broke his nose two weeks ago after coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Everton. The 27-year-old had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes before he was caught in the face by Toffees striker Thierno Barry. He was forced off for treatment at the Emirates as blood was pouring from his nose, and the Spaniard will wear a protective mask against Slavia Prague in the Champions League.
That unlucky break came off the back of Zubimendi taking a knock to his ankle in a freak incident during the warm-down of Arsenal's 2-1 home win over Leeds last month. The injury only kept him out for a week, but it summed up a slow start to a season in which he has started just two games for his club.
Mikel Arteta and Team-Mates Back the Unlucky Midfielder
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains supportive of the player despite his physical setbacks and reduced playing time. Arteta said that Martin is a very important player for the team and acknowledged that he has been a bit unlucky with what happened with his ankle and the nose afterwards.
Arteta added that the club has options in midfield and that everyone has to be ready to perform when given the chance. Praising the player's attitude, Arteta noted that his energy, application, and will to help are unquestionable, calling him an unbelievable player for the squad.
Team-mate Mikel Merino also offered strong support regarding the difficult transition. Merino noted that it is hard when a player is used to playing matches and suddenly finds themselves in a different role, but praised Zubimendi as a very focused guy who maintains the quality to start regularly.
Transfer Links and Increased Competition at the Emirates
Zubimendi could be forgiven for feeling a bit down about the entire situation given his limited opportunities. Even with his fitness issues, his playing chances have been restricted, and a host of top clubs around Europe will be watching the situation closely ahead of the January transfer window. Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the midfielder, who was part of the Spain squad that won the World Cup in North America.
The competition for places in the Arsenal midfield has increased significantly since last season. The Gunners splashed £75million on Bruno Guimaraes in the summer, and it was the Brazilian who started alongside Declan Rice for a recent battling victory at Anfield.
Last season, Zubimendi was the only player in the Arsenal squad to feature in every Premier League game on their way to lifting the title for the first time in 22 years. If anything, the biggest issue was that Arteta overplayed him, leading to exhaustion by the end of the campaign, which saw Myles Lewis-Skelly picked ahead of him to start the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest in May.
Looking Ahead to the Champions League Clash
Zubimendi should make his third start of the season in the Champions League, with Arteta likely to make changes to his team following a Sunday Premier League win at Liverpool. The Gunners boss may argue that no European away match is easy, but Slavia Prague are on a 22-game winless run in the competition that dates back to 2007.
It should make this a routine league phase game for the Gunners, who have seven points from their first three Champions League matches, but Zubimendi will be desperate to shine. His two starts this season both came in the Carabao Cup, and for one of those, he was asked to fill in at right-back.
The challenge for Zubimendi is to respond to adversity with patience. Arsenal pursued his signature over a long period, eventually securing a deal for £51m after initial reluctance from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2024. Arteta believed the midfielder would be worth the wait, but now it is Zubimendi who must demonstrate endurance as he fights to reclaim his spot.
