Why Martin Zubimendi rejected Liverpool as imminent Arsenal transfer deals blow to Arne Slot

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Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, with the player likely to end up at the Emirates after rejecting a switch to Liverpool last summer.

With Thomas Partey and Jorginho entering the latter stages of their respective careers, the Gunners are in desperate need of new long-term midfield reinforcements.

Lorenzo Pellegrini has been linked with Arsenal, while Jobe Bellingham has also been mooted as a potential option for the North Londoners.

However, Arsenal are expected to trigger Zubimendi’s £51 million release clause, with Mikel Arteta seemingly deciding that the Sociedad man is his ideal acquisition in the middle of the park.

The addition will represent a major coup for Arsenal, beating rivals Liverpool to the services of one of Europe’s most talented midfielders.

Martin Zubimendi reveals why he rejected Liverpool

Born in San Sebastian, Zubimendi developed through Real Sociedad’s academy system and burst into the first team in the 2019/20 season.

He’s since made over 200 appearances for his boyhood club, and managed 15 caps for the Spanish national team.

• READ MORE: Inside the life of Martin Zubimendi, everything about the Arsenal transfer target set to make £51m switch

Identified by Arteta as a potential target a while back, Arsenal appear to have finally secured their man.

The Spanish tactician was able to convince the deep-lying playmaker to swap the Basque country for North London, a feat Arne Slot was unable to achieve.

Speaking to El Diaro Vasco, Zubimendi explained why he opted to reject Slot’s advances last summer.

“I went on vacation, and it caught me by surprise,” he said.

“It wasn’t something I had planned. I reacted when the situation arose. It was an uncomfortable time for me, but I weighed the pros and cons and concluded that the best option was to stay.”

While many would’ve leaped at the opportunity to play for the famous Merseyside club, Zubimendi’s self-belief meant he didn’t feel he needed to make the jump out of fear that he wouldn’t get a similar chance in the future.

“I don’t believe in ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunities,” he added. “If you’re good and want to achieve something, it will come to you. There’s no need to rush.

“I looked at my personal progression, who I am, and the club’s project.

“I stayed because I knew this season would be important for me in the team, and I still had steps to take.”

Former Sociedad defender and Arsenal player Kieran Tierney waxed lyrcial about Zubimendi when the pair played together in Spain, and it’s clear from the 25-year-old’s mature words about remaining at La Real that the Gunners have a special personality and player arriving at their club in the summer.

How do Martin Zubimendi’s statistics compare to Thomas Partey’s?

Having been deployed as a number six for the majority of his career, this is the role you’d expect Zubimendi to assume in N5.

Thomas Partey is likely to leave Arsenal when his contract expires in June, with Zubimendi evidently the heir to the Ghanaian’s throne.

As for how the two players compare, it would certainly appear that Arteta has secured an upgrade, particularly on the current iteration of Partey.

While they profile similarly statistically, Zubimendi produces marginally more in regard to both defensive output and in his ability to progress the ball through passing.

Partey may be more secure in possession, but this is an area in which you’d expect Zubimendi to improve as he plays in a side that has significantly more of the ball.

In fact, the Euro 2024 winner could thrive in a possession-oriented system in which he is the beating heart.