Arsenal fans have taken to social media to react to the news that the Gunners are set to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
Reports have emerged claiming a deal for Zubimendi is “virtually done”, as the Gunners have reportedly paid the £51m release clause in the Spaniard’s contract at Sociedad.
Zubimendi had attracted interest from Premier League rivals Liverpool, but it looks as though Arsenal are set to beat the Reds to land the midfielder, who was teammates with Mikel Merino at the La Liga side.
The report suggests that Zubimendi won’t join until the summer transfer window, but it sets the Gunners up to have a strengthened midfield for next season.
Fans have taken to X to react to the news, with some delighted about the reports, and some suggesting that Mikel Arteta should prioritise a striker instead…
Zubimendi + Rice + Odegaard = Total Domination. Arsenal will cook
— Pharm Emeka (Gunner) (@StarBede) January 14, 2025
Arsenal are massive
Liverpool are small.— TheSakaEffect (@TheSakaEffect) January 14, 2025
why? midfield isn’t the issue.. why not just put that 60m towards a striker
— Mythoughtsonfootball (@NotonthemenuEU) January 14, 2025
We need attackers fgs
— Ya’qub 💸 (@UncleYakub) January 14, 2025
This team is so annoying. We can’t be optimistic for the future when we have nothing at the moment. Yes we want a Thomas Partey replacement happened with rice merino and none can why don’t we first get a striker for once Arteta and his people are frustrating
— SANTO (@ssentongopeter5) January 14, 2025
Arsenal’s interest in Martin Zubimendi shows their ambition for next season. A solid addition to strengthen midfield!
— Ayisha (@AyishaBio) January 14, 2025
Quite smart of Arsenal to pair Zubimendi back with Merino.
— FootballForecasterFPL (@FootballForeca3) January 14, 2025
That’s good news if it’s true bcs that guy is so good in defensive midfield.
— Tahseen (@Tahseen10577313) January 14, 2025
€60m for a player you’ll get in 2025? arsenal really out here planning for the future when they can’t even secure the present. priorities, right?
— nivra 👾 (@callmenivraa) January 14, 2025
Zubimendi likely to replace out-of-contract Arsenal pair
The Spanish international will come in as a defensive midfielder, which is no coincidence considering the fact that the Gunners have two central midfield players whose contracts expire at the end of the season.
Thomas Partey, and Jorginho’s contracts at the Emirates both expire in summer, and considering that a deal for Zubimendi looks all but complete, they likely won’t sign extensions with the Sociedad midfielder set to replace them.
Partey would be more likely to sign a one year extension than Jorginho, simply due to the fact that this season, Arteta has been using him at full-back as well as in midfield. He could still be a useful depth piece for the Gunners next season.