Arsenal’s preparation for the 2024/25 season saw them travel to the U.S. for preseason games. Their first game in the States was against their fellow English Premier League (EPL) counterpart, Bournemouth, which they won on penalties.
They continued their tour against two other Premier League clubs, by the names of Manchester United and Liverpool. The Gunners then beat Man United, 2-1, and lost to Liverpool by the same scoreline. Arsenal are expected to continue their preparations for the coming season with two matches at the Emirates in London against defending Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon.
Mikel Arteta’s side has also been getting ready for the new season in other ways. The club has been working on new signings to add depth to their team. Arsenal previously secured the signature of Ricardo Calafiori and are presently working on signing Mike Merino. However, a name from the collection of top-quality midfielders would be a total game-changer for them.
Arsenal Needs a Midfield Boost
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Mikel Arteta’s side fell short of winning the league, coming in second two years in a row. They fell short mainly because of the dominance of Man City. A lot of questions have been raised on what’s needed for the team to outclass the formidable City. A well-known answer has been to improve the squad’s depth. Over the past two seasons, players of different quality have been introduced. That resulted in significant improvement to the team.
It’s expected that the additions won’t be halted as the Gunners are most concerned about winning a major trophy. In preparation for the coming season, they’ve signed Bologna’s defensive sensation Ricardo Calafiori. Moreover, there have been some underlying challenges to their midfield (although they might’ve passed under the carpet due to the efficient performances of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice).
Yet their midfield structure is only one injury away by either of the two from capitulation. The North London club seems to be partly aware of the issue. They are already in heated pursuit of Mike Merino. However, with Arteta’s 4-3-3 style of play, more is needed.
The Perfect Solution: Martin Zubimendi
Mikel Arteta prefers to play a 4-3-3 formation. The three in the middle consist of a deep deep-lying playmaker, a box-to-box midfielder, and an advanced playmaker.
Rice occupies the box-to-box role, while Odegaard is the advanced playmaker. The role of the deep-lying playmaker was shuffled between the aging Jorginho and Partey. The two were known to be something worth beholding in their primes. However, they’ve both gone past it. It would be ideal if Arsenal now went for a younger and much hungrier deep-lying playmaker.
Arsenal target Mike Merino wouldn’t be a bad idea, except that the Spaniard would excel more going forward, as opposed to a deep-lying playmaker who will dictate play from the back to the center half. As that being done, it’s expected for the playmaker to maintain defensive duties off the ball. Well-known as deep-lying playmakers who are still active or recently retired are Frenkie De Jong, Rodri, Busquets, Toni Kroos, and Xabi Alonso.
In light of this, there’s quite a scarcity of a young deep-lying playmakers. This is due to the technicality of the role. Nonetheless, some do still exist and a great option for Arsenal would be Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
Zubimendi’s Player Profile
The 25-year-old Spaniard is an intriguing Midfielder who’s best known for his press-resistant ball-keeping abilities. He also has good vision as a passer, demonstrating exceptional passing accuracy. Although he’s been admired by different clubs all around, none has yet made serious contact. However, he could be a vital game-changer for the Gunners. The addition of the Spaniard would bring a whole new dimension to Mikel Arteta’s side and their game pattern.
Overall, he’ll enhance their midfield structure and control in games. Martin Zubimendi’s presence in the team would also serve as a good replacement for their former deep-lying playmaker, Granit Xhaka. His second appearance while replacing Man City star Rodri in the Euro 2024 final depicted the kind of quality he has. He substituted Rodri for more than 45 minutes, and it felt as if the Man City star hadn’t been removed.
The great importance of the Gunners securing a top-class deep-lying playmaker can’t be overemphasized. As the likes of Partey and Jorginho drift away from quality, it’s pertinent for the Gunners to secure the best replacement. Aside from Martin Zubimendi, another player the Gunners could go for is Fabian Ruiz. However, he’s a bit older and might not be such a good long-term project for the Gunners.
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