Arsenal might actually have to sacrifice Martin Zubimendi in January to improve

Despite enjoying a spectacular start to the new season, Arsenal are already looking ahead to the January transfer window, with Mikel Arteta eager to further improve his squad to aid his team in their pursuit of multiple honours.

The Gunners have won nine of their first ten league matches, a return that has them five points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Meanwhile, they sit third in the Champions League table after four matches.

That doesn't mean there isn't still ample room for improvement. Whilst their superb defensive record speaks for itself - they've conceded just five league goals - Arteta's men have also only scored 15. Their attack can easily go up another level or two with the addition of greater firepower.

However, Arsenal's roster might already be too big. The 20 players who made the cut for Saturday's clash with Hull City at the Emirates didn't include the likes of William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and Max Dowman.

Very soon, senior players aren't going to be included in matchday squads, and this will inevitably lead to problems in the dressing room.

Thus, if Arsenal want to reinforce in January, they're almost definitely going to have to let one or two players go.

Martin Zubimendi could be sacrificed

When assessing who might have to make way in the winter window, the club have to identify who is perhaps somewhat redundant in the squad but is also a valuable asset in the market. The man who springs to mind is Martin Zubimendi, and the reports reflect that.

According to Miguel Delaney of the Independent, the Spaniard is considered vulnerable in the Arsenal squad right now. The club are aware of their need to cash in on someone, and with Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid circling around the World Cup winner, this could represent an opportunistic sale.

While he's grown a year and a half older in his time in North London, Zubimendi's stock has only risen. He's proven himself in the Premier League, playing for one of the best teams in the world, and he's also now an English champion. The Gunners should be able to recoup their £52 million investment in the midfielder, at a minimum.

Understandably, many fans have become attached to the player and would find it uncomfortable to lose him so soon into his Arsenal career, particularly if he were to sign for Chelsea. However, this sentiment shouldn't detract the Gunners hierarchy from making the right squad-building decision.

Myles Lewis-Skelly's emergence as a midfielder has made Zubimendi somewhat redundant. His well-roundedness is no longer as important when Arteta has a number of specialists in the middle of the park.

Ultimately, having Zubimendi stick around would keep everyone at Arsenal comfortable, as it would protect the team against an injury crisis in midfield. However, he's yet to start a Premier League game this season, and you simply cannot turn down an offer in excess of £60 million for a player who is this peripheral, particularly if you aspire to strengthen your attack at the same time.

A Zubimendi departure would allow Eberechi Eze to spend more time centrally, where he generally looks more natural, creating space for a dynamic left-winger to come in.

In an ideal world, he stays, but squad-building doesn't work like that. He may have to make way for Arsenal to improve as a collective unit.

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