David Silva has singled out an Arsenal player as one of the most promising in the game.
Asked by Post United to name the most promising player ahead of the World Cup, the former Manchester City and Spain legend offered two names.
The first was Alberto Moleiro, the Las Palmas midfielder who narrowly missed out on being selected in Luis de la Fuente’s squad.
The second was Martin Zubimendi. “But also Martin Zubimendi — I’m going with him. I like him a lot,” Silva said.
Do you think Martin Zubimendi is underrated in the Arsenal fanbase?
It is an interesting answer, to say the least. Zubimendi is 27 years old with 26 senior Spain caps to his name, including the second half of the Euro 2024 final against England.
Whether Silva was thinking of him as a promising talent still to fully show what he is capable of on the world stage, or simply rated him among the most exciting players at the tournament, is unclear.
Either way, it’s a positive endorsement from one of Spanish football’s greatest ever players.
At the World Cup, Zubimendi is expected to deputise for Silva’s former Manchester City teammate, Rodri, in Spain’s midfield.
Arsenal midfield transfer links point to an uncertain future for Martin Zubimendi
It has been a strange season for Zubimendi, who joined for £55million from Real Sociedad last summer.
The Arsenal midfielder started the season like a house on fire, forming a seamless partnership with Declan Rice and looking every inch the signing Mikel Arteta had hoped for.
But performances dipped after Christmas, with the relentless fixture schedule and intensity of the Premier League catching up on him.
By the run-in, he had lost his place to Myles Lewis-Skelly, and was on the bench for the Champions League final.
Of course, he is still a Premier League champion, and played a massive part in that.
He played every single game of the 38-match season — the only Arsenal player to do so and only the second player ever of the Premier League era to achieve that feat in a title-winning campaign.
TRUE or FALSE: Arsenal MUST upgrade on Martin Zubimendi this summer?
But Arsenal are still looking to strengthen in midfield, with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes both firmly on the radar.
The arrival of either would only increase competition for Zubimendi’s place, so a strong World Cup could not come at a better time for the Spaniard.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
