What Will A Zubimendi-Rice Midfield Duo Look Like At Arsenal?

Think Football Ideas
Jul 7
2 min read

Arteta’s Midfield Puzzle Just Got A New Piece

Martin Zubimendi has arrived. The Spanish deep-lying maestro has finally swapped San Sebastián for North London, joining Arsenal in what feels like a quiet but calculated midfield move.

While headline-makers like Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard have been at the forefront of Mikel Arteta’s rebuild, Zubimendi could prove to be the glue that holds it all together, having spent over £300 million since Mikel Arteta took over.

And now the big question: what happens when Zubimendi lines up alongside Declan Rice in the Gunners' starting line-up?

Rice, Unshackled

Since arriving in 2023, Declan Rice has evolved under Arteta’s watch. No longer boxed in as a destroyer, he’s been allowed to roam, break lines, and even get into scoring positions, bagging 11 league goals in just two seasons. That’s not a fluke. That’s freedom and the signing of Zubimendi could take that freedom up a notch.

Zubimendi Brings Control, Not Chaos

Unlike Rice, Zubimendi isn’t known for lung-busting runs or last-minute tackles. His game is about control, smart positioning, reading transitions, and moving the ball quickly through the thirds.

Midfielder Martin Zubimendi – 'It's The Move I Was Looking For.'

Last season at Real Sociedad, just under half of his touches came in the opposition half. Compare that to Rice’s 60% at Arsenal, and it’s clear: Zubimendi holds the fort, and Rice raids the castle.

Defensively, the Spaniard stacks up well: more tackles, more interceptions, and more duels per 90 than Rice. But it’s his vision that adds another layer, as he ranked among La Liga’s top five midfielders for line-breaking passes.

Building A Balanced Arsenal Core

With Zubimendi sitting deep, expect Rice to continue charging forward, joining attacks, pressing high, and covering massive amounts of ground. It’s not hard to imagine this pairing giving Arsenal the same level of balance Manchester City once enjoyed with Fernandinho behind Kevin De Bruyne.

And when you strip it down to stats (in the 2024-25 campaign):

Zubimendi: 2.2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 8.6 duels, 238 line-breaking passes

Rice: 1.7 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, 7.5 duels, 1.9 chances created per game

The duo might not look flashy on paper, but the blend of fire and finesse is hard to ignore.

Arsenal’s Title Chase Needs This Type Of Chemistry

Games are won in the middle, but titles? Titles are built on balance and trust between two midfield generals. If Zubimendi and Rice can strike that perfect balance, Arsenal might have finally found their long-term midfield spine. Think Viera-Petit.