5 players who played for Arsenal & Real Sociedad

Martin Zubimendi has officially signed for Arsenal from Real Sociedad and in doing so will become the sixth player to have played for both clubs.

The Gunners have acquired a number of the Spanish side's talents over the years as well as selling on to the Basque Country club. Fans will be hoping new signing Zubimendi can replicate the efforts of previous players that have swapped the north of Spain for the English capital.

Here are the five players who have previously played for both Arsenal and Real Sociedad.

5 players who played for Arsenal & Real Sociedad

1. Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta joined Real Sociedad in 2004 following a two-year spell with Rangers, but wasn't particularly successful in the Basque Country. He made just 17 appearances before being loaned to Everton, eventually making the move permanent.

The Spaniard moved to Arsenal from the Toffees and that was where the best days of his career came. He scored 16 goals in 150 appearances for the Gunners and won two FA Cups, as well as being named captain in 2014.

After his retirement, Arteta moved to Manchester City as Pep Guardiola's assistant before returning to north London in 2019 to begin his managerial career. He won an FA Cup in his first season as Arsenal boss and has led his team in multiple title charges and will be looking to go one better this season.

2. Carlos Vela

After moving from Guadalajara in his native Mexico, Carlos Vela came through Arsenal's academy, but struggled to break into the side's senior team.

The Mexico international scored 11 goals in 62 appearances for the Gunners, but several loan moves away from the club prevented him from knuckling down a spot in the first team.

Vela's final move away from north London was to Sociedad, where he spent a season on loan before signing on a permanent basis. He became crucial part of the Spanish side's setup, netting 73 times and providing 43 assists in 250 appearances before leaving for Los Angeles FC in 2018.

3. Nacho Monreal

Perhaps one of the most underrated and underappreciated players of the Emirates era, Nacho Monreal signed for Arsenal from Malaga in 2013 and became an important player over the years.

Despite being a defensive-minded left back, the Spaniard scored a number of crucial goals for the Gunners, most notably an equaliser in an eventual 2-1 FA Cup semi-final victory over Man City in 2017.

Monreal left Arsenal in 2019 having made 251 appearances for the club, signing for Sociedad for a small fee. He spent three seasons with the side, playing 69 times before retiring in 2022.

4. Martin Odegaard

In the time when he was still regarded as one of Europe's hottest young prospects, Martin Odegaard spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Real Sociedad from Real Madrid.

He scored seven goals and assisted nine in 36 appearances throughout the campaign before returning to his parent club after helping Sociedad win the Copa del Rey.

Odegaard eventually moved to Arsenal, first on loan and then permanently, and remains with the club to date. He was named the team's captain at the end of his first full season and has netted 41 goals and provided 38 assists in 198 appearances.

5. Mikel Merino

Following spells in his native Spain, Germany and England, Mikel Merino joined Sociedad in 2018 and soon became an important player. He made 242 appearances and won a Copa del Rey over six seasons with the club.

He signed for Arsenal at the start of last season, but didn't make his debut until October due to suffering a shoulder injury. The Spaniard played in midfield until February when his namesake manager decided to utilise him in a new role.

Merino filled in as a makeshift striker and had a notable run in the position, scoring six goals in 12 appearances, including finishes against Real Madrid and Liverpool. His striker heroics have already made himself somewhat of a cult hero among his side's fans.

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