Tag: Arsenal

Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi means another declining player is out the door
Analysis

Arsenal signing Martin Zubimendi means another declining player is out the door

Arsenal need a striker more than anything in order to win the Premier League and make the leap from "in the mix" to a true Champions League title contender, but their biggest priority signing seemed to be a midfielder. And after going after him for more than a year, Arsenal are now set to secure the signing of defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the club have reached an agreement with the 26-year-old star from Real Sociedad. Zubimendi will cost the team 60 million euros, per his release clause with La Real, and will immediately slot in the starting lineup alongside 105 million pound 2023 transfer Declan Rice at the base of the midfield. One of the best No. 6's in the world, Zubimendi helped turn Real Sociedad into perennial Champions League c...
5 biggest winners and losers on Arsenal from the Martin Zubimendi transfer
Analysis

5 biggest winners and losers on Arsenal from the Martin Zubimendi transfer

After more than a year in pursuit, Arsenal are set to sign Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi as Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the Gunners have reached an agreement with the 26-year-old on a deal and will soon activate his 60 million euro release clause. Zubimendi is one of the most coveted No. 6's in the world - a position in which there is a lack of top talent. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester United were all linked with Zubimendi, but it was obvious that the only team he was willing to leave Real Sociedad for was Arsenal. Now that the transfer is set to be completed, let's run through the biggest winners and losers on Arsenal as a result of the transfer, Winner: AM Martin Odegaard There is perhaps no bigger winner than Martin Odegaard, who c...
The next signing Arsenal have to make after Martin Zubimendi transfer is obvious
Analysis

The next signing Arsenal have to make after Martin Zubimendi transfer is obvious

Arsenal have been in dogged pursuit of Real Sociedad star defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi for over a year now, and Fabrizio Romano has just reported that the Gunners have agreed to a deal to sign the top-class LaLiga No. 6 for his 60 million euro release clause. Despite some interest from Real Madrid, the move has come as no surprise, as Arsenal were the overwhelming favorites to sign the 26-year-old Spanish international this summer above other clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Barcelona who were also linked. Zubimendi slots in comfortably next to Declan Rice at the base of a midfield that will also include former Zubi teammate and Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino as backup. Better yet, Arsenal will have captain and attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard in front of...
The best possible Arsenal starting lineup after Martin Zubimendi transfer
Analysis

The best possible Arsenal starting lineup after Martin Zubimendi transfer

Arsenal have been pursuing Martin Zubimendi as their top transfer target for more than a year now, and although there were rumblings that Real Madrid could potentially swoop in and sign the Real Sociedad star with Xabi Alonso entering the picture as their new manager, the Gunners were always seen as overwhelming favorites to land the 26-year-old defensive midfielder. Now, Fabrizio Romano has given the official "Here We Go" to the move, stating that Zubimendi has verbally agreed to sign a long-term deal with the North London powerhouse, and Arsenal, of course, can sign Zubi due to his 60 million euro release clause. With Zubimendi set to arrive at the Emirates Stadium one year after former Real Sociedad midfield teammate Mikel Merino did the same, here's a look at how the Arsenal star...
Arsenal Player Ratings vs. PSG as Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice flop horribly
Analysis

Arsenal Player Ratings vs. PSG as Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice flop horribly

Arsenal are out of the 2024/25 Champions League knockout stages after falling 3-1 to PSG on aggregate, as the Parisians were able to outlast them 2-1 at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night. Here are player ratings for every Arsenal starter vs. PSG. GK David Raya, 7.0 Saved a penalty and stood no chance at saving either goal from PSG. Honestly, he deserves better than the performances he's been getting from the Arsenal fullbacks this season. LB Myles Lewis-Skelly, 3.5 Not a serious player. Comes to the matches and seems more intent on trying to master the dark arts with cheap fouls, arguing with other players, and diving rather than actually playing the game. Very limited tactical awareness and technical ability. He can be a decent squad player for Arsenal, but he doesn't belong ...
Arsenal still want to sign West Ham’s most talented player
Transfer News

Arsenal still want to sign West Ham’s most talented player

Arsenal have been in contention for the Premier League title in each of the past three seasons, but they are still in need of additional star power to get over the hump. Although goals at striker should be the priority, talkSPORT reports that Arsenal are renewing their interest in West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus. Primarily known for his one-on-one dribbling, Kudus is a versatile player who can start on the wings, as an attacking midfielder, or as a center forward. But while he has a lot of talent and can have some of the best weekends of any player in the Premier League, he has more than double the number of games in which he is a huge disappointment. Kudus has an 85 million pound release clause in his West Ham contract, so, this point, it's mostly been Saudi Pro League clubs linked ...
The only way Arsenal lose Martin Zubimendi to Real Madrid
Transfer News

The only way Arsenal lose Martin Zubimendi to Real Madrid

Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been one of LaLiga's finest players over the last couple of seasons, and after rebuffing several big clubs in order to stay with La Real, it looks like Arsenal have the inside track to finally sign the most coveted No. 6 on the transfer market. Defensive midfielders who control the game are a rare commodity in world football, and they generally go for major transfer fees. Real Madrid spent 80 million euros on Champions League winner Aurelien Tchouameni in 2022, while Arsenal spent a club record 100 million pounds on Declan Rice in 2023. Zubimendi will be cheaper than those two at 60 million euros, though, at 26 years old, he's also hitting the transfer market a few years older than Rice and Tchouameni were. ALSO READ: 3 summe...
Arsenal expected to pursue Chelsea’s most puzzling transfer flop this summer
Transfer News

Arsenal expected to pursue Chelsea’s most puzzling transfer flop this summer

Arsenal have made it to the Champions League semifinals this season after embarrassing Real Madrid across both legs, and while they aren't anywhere near Liverpool in the Premier League title race, there's a sense that if they can finally nab the right attacking help this summer transfer window, they can reach the summit of the English top flight in 2025/26. The Gunners didn't sign a striker last summer after top target Benjamin Sesko wasn't available. After Kai Havertz's injury, Mikel Merino has functioned as a makeshift No. 9, and, as Real Madrid can attest, the new center midfield signing has been pretty good in this role, too. But Arsenal do need a real striker, whether that is Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, or someone as ambitious as Newcastle's Alexander Isak or Napoli's Victor Osimhen...
2024/25 Champions League Predictions for the Quarterfinals
Analysis

2024/25 Champions League Predictions for the Quarterfinals

On Tuesday, the quarterfinals of the 2024/25 Champions League season will begin, and while defending champions Real Madrid are always the favorites until proven otherwise, they have been significantly outplayed by Barcelona in their own league and barely survived the Round of 16 against crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Aston Villa are still sticking around despite their struggles in the Premier League and have a big-ticket battle against Unai Emery's former club PSG, who knocked league phase leaders Liverpool out of the competition. Here are the full predictions for the quarterfinals across both legs. Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan Bayern Munich head into the Champions League quarterfinals with a ton of major injuries to their back line. The most significant one is the t...
Arsenal won’t like Eintracht Frankfurt’s updated Hugo Ekitike transfer price
Transfer News

Arsenal won’t like Eintracht Frankfurt’s updated Hugo Ekitike transfer price

Arsenal are in the market for a new starting striker after balking on signing a No. 9 in the last summer transfer window, which ultimately proved costly in the Premier League title race with a much-improved Liverpool side. Now, Arsenal are back to the drawing board in the summer 2025 transfer window, but the best options at striker are largely familiar ones: RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres, and Napoli's Victor Osimhen are still among the top options. Newcastle star Alexander Isak has emerged as a dream transfer target for the Gunners, and they are now also looking at Eintracht Frankfurt breakout star Hugo Ekitike as a potentially cheaper alternative. Unfortunately, with other big clubs like Manchester United adding Ekitike to their shortlist, Frankfurt's...