Martín Zubimendi’s impact on Arsenal’s 2-0 win over West Ham United has been hailed in Spain, where Marca praised his authority and described him as a player who has “transformed Arsenal’s midfield”.
The 26-year-old began on the bench as Mikel Arteta sought to give him a rest, but was called into action early when Martin Ødegaard was forced off after a knee-on-knee collision.
From that point on, Arsenal took complete control of the game with Zubimendi directly contributing to both goals as Mikel Arteta’s side returned to the top of the Premier League.
He won the ball back in midfield before releasing Eberechi Eze, whose saved shot allowed Declan Rice to open the scoring against his former club.
Later, Zubimendi picked out Jurrien Timber with a measured pass before the full-back was brought down on the edge of the box.
Bukayo Saka scored the penalty that followed to seal the win.
Spanish reports highlighted how comfortably Zubimendi has adapted to English football, noting that his consistency has made him one of Arsenal’s most reliable players. Marca called him “impossible to leave out”, adding that his intelligence and precision “set the rhythm of Arsenal’s game”.
His form has also fired up discussion in Spain again about his place in the national team. With Rodri firmly established under Luis de la Fuente, Zubimendi’s performances have made it increasingly difficult to justify leaving him out.
Even after injuries to Ødegaard and Rice, Zubimendi’s influence stood out. His composure and positional awareness gave Arsenal control in a game that could easily have become scrappy as we have seen in the recent past.
Arsenal lost this fixture last year, and the year before.
In Spain, the consensus was clear. Zubimendi is not just fitting into Arsenal’s system; he is beginning to define it and it is no surprise than even Rodri himself has named Zubimendi as the man to replace him in the national side.