Arsenal fans told they don’t realise just how ‘spectacular’ one player is

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One Arsenal player might be slipping under the radar because of how consistently brilliant he is.

The Gunners are earning high praise right now, sitting top of the Premier League table and conceding only three goals in all competitions.

It’s been a brilliant week for Arsenal, who beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the Champions League, a match that Martin Zubimendi thrived in. 

Zubimendi pulled off some Dennis Bergkamp-like movements in the contest, and despite getting Arsenal fans off their seats, the question has been asked whether the Spaniard is appreciated enough.

• READ MORE: Ranking all eight Arsenal summer transfer signings from Viktor Gyokeres to Eberechi Eze

Martin Zubimendi a ‘class apart’ from his Arsenal teammates

Before the game, Diego Simeone was fixated on Zubimendi when selecting his starting XI, but still, Atletico couldn’t limit the midfielder’s flow.

Zubimendi was like a playmaker against Atletico, doing far more than merely dictating the tempo in midfield, which earned him high praise from journalist Amy Lawrence.

Speaking on The Athletic’s Handbrake Off podcast, Lawrence and co-host Ian Stone discussed Arsenal’s summer signing. 

“People aren’t quite appreciating Zubimendi, I don’t think,” Stone speculated.

Lawrence agreed to some degree, sharing her opinion that people don’t realise just how influential Zubimendi is until he’s not on the pitch.

“I mean, I think he’s one of those guys that maybe you don’t realise until he’s not there. He just knits things together.”

The Arsenal expert went on to wax lyrical about Zubimendi, dubbing him a ‘class apart’ from his teammates.

“I think he’s much more than a knitter-togetherer. Oh my goodness, he is a spectacular footballer,” Lawrence said.

“His quickness of his brain is a class apart. He is figuring out what’s going on and getting himself adjusted to get in the right position or do the right little thing. It’s absolutely first class.”

First class is the perfect way to describe Zubimendi, who has been one of the signings of the summer.

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Mikel Arteta will be absolutely delighted with Zubimendi, who has taken no time at all to settle in at Arsenal and in the Premier League.

The Spaniard has scrapped the idea of an adaptation period, instead getting straight down to business as one of Arsenal’s highest-ranked players in the league this season.

Based on Sofascore match ratings, Zubimendi is the third-highest rated Arsenal player in the Premier League so far. 

With an average rating of 7.31, only Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber are deemed to have outplayed the 26-year-old.

It’s been quite the start to life in England for a player who spent the entirety of his career beforehand in Spain, with his £51m price tag looking like a bargain.