‘I’ve Found the Right One’: Zubimendi Backs Arteta After Arsenal Switch.

Zubimendi Believes He Has Found A Quality Coach In Arteta

There’s settling into a new club, and then there’s Martín Zubimendi’s smooth glide into the Arsenal way of life. Just weeks after swapping San Sebastián for north London, the 25-year-old midfielder already sounds like someone who’s been a Gooner for years; confident, grounded, and full of quiet ambition.

But this wasn’t your typical whirlwind signing. Zubimendi’s move was the final piece of a two-year plan, carefully engineered behind closed doors by Arsenal and Real Sociedad, a rare dual-arrangement that also saw Mikel Merino make the same switch just a year prior.

“From the outside, people might think this happened overnight,” Zubimendi said, speaking at Arsenal’s new away kit launch in Singapore. “But there was respect. Timing. Trust on all sides.”

The midfielder stayed loyal to his boyhood club for an extra season after Arsenal made initial contact, even captaining them through a crucial La Liga campaign. All while fending off growing interest from Europe’s giants, including Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and a previously rejected Liverpool.

Zubimendi spent 14 years at Real Sociedad, from youth days to senior player.

A Transfer Cloaked In Patience, Precision, And Purpose

Credit where it’s due: The recruitment journey began under sporting director Edu, who helped lay the groundwork before departing. Andrea Berta then stepped in to continue the strategic long-game, working closely with manager Mikel Arteta to pull off something rare in modern football - a stealthy and strategic long-game.

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Arteta, speaking in Singapore ahead of the club’s pre-season tour, praised the "orchestrated effort" behind bringing in two players he sees as core to his evolving midfield.

“We knew what we wanted, they knew what they wanted, and Sociedad had time to prepare too,” said the Spaniard. “In the end, everyone won.”

“What I Saw In Arteta Is That He’s Obsessive, In A Good Way”

Now in red and white, Zubimendi isn’t shy about the impact Arteta has already made. “I don’t know what he saw in me,” Zubimendi joked, “but what I saw in him is that he’s a top coach. Obsessive, yes, in a good way. There’s no detail too small for him.”

The midfielder admitted he had one major ask before leaving Sociedad: he wanted to play under a coach who could genuinely elevate his game. "And I think I’ve found that with Mikel," he added.

He’s expected to slot into the role vacated by Thomas Partey, providing defensive stability while helping Arsenal build from deep, which is a task that suits his blend of discipline and vision.

Eyes On The Bigger Prizes

Asked whether he believes he can help Arsenal take the final step, after back-to-back near misses in the Premier League, Zubimendi didn’t flinch.

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“Hopefully,” he said, “because football is about moments. I watched Arsenal last season, especially in the Champions League, and they were the one team that really gave PSG a proper fight. But it’s always the small margins. That’s what we’ll work on.”