Martin Zubimendi has been a revelation at Arsenal this season.
The Gunners signed the Spain international from Real Sociedad in the summer after chasing him for well over a year. It took a lot of work to land him, but Mikel Arteta got it done.
That has proved to be the right decision as Zubimendi has been Arsenal’s best signing this season and has impressed everyone.
Even William Saliba has been blown away by the Arsenal number 36.
Answer honestly, have you been surprised by how good Martin Zubimendi has been?
William Saliba says Arsenal stars knew Martin Zubimendi was a ‘top player’ after his first training session
Arsenal wrapped up the deal to sign Martin Zubimendi months before the summer transfer window opened.
Reports emerged as early as last January that everything was agreed between the Gunners, the midfielder and Real Sociedad over a move to the Emirates.
That allowed Andrea Berta to make the signing official very early in the summer, and Zubimendi reported to pre-season training on the first day.
Saliba, who knows how difficult it is to adapt to life in England, has now revealed that everyone at the club realised that Zubimendi was a star after watching him train on his very first day.
He told HaytersTV: “He is so good. We could see in the first training (session) he had with us, we could see that he was a top player.
“(He’s) Never under pressure with the ball, without the ball as well, he is so good. He brings us a lot of calmness with the ball, a lot of composure. We can see that he can score as well.
“So, it’s good for him and for us. He has to keep going like this because he’s a wonderful player.”
How much is Martin Zubimendi worth to Arsenal now?
It's certainly a lot more than the £51m we paid!
Arsenal’s spine is world-class
Almost every title-winning team in history has had a great spine, and Arteta has built a magnificent one at Arsenal.
David Raya has been unreal in goal for the Gunners, while Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have formed the best centre-back partnership in the world.
In front of them, Zubimendi has been world-class next to Declan Rice, while Martin Odegaard and Viktor Gyokeres have been getting better and better as well.
If Arsenal are to go on and win the Premier League and Champions League, their spine will be the biggest reason why.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
