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Arsenal heads into the break at a scoreline of Arsenal 0-0 Atlético Madrid. Undoubtedly, it is a game that Arsenal should be leading given how dominant they've been, but the only stat that really matters at this point is goals scored.
One of the reasons why Arsenal dominated the first half is due to their midfield stubbornness. Simply put, Atlético's midfielders could barely breathe before Arsenal's midfielders hounded them.
Yes, the Arsenal defenders were great. They always are, and they rightfully always receive their flowers for doing so.
But let's talk about Martin Zubimendi. He was by far and away Arsenal's best midfielder in the first half, and so far this season, he has been one of Arsenal's most improved players overall.
Martin Zubimendi assured his Arsenal suspension against Slavia Prague
In the first half, Martin Zubimendi's temper got the better of him. He picked up a yellow card in the 38th minute for his challenge on Nicolás González. This yellow card means he will now miss Arsenal's next game in the Champions League.
It only took three yellow cards for this to happen, so Zubimendi can be excused. However, it's not great news for Arsenal, regardless of how stupid the rule can be.
As mentioned, Zubimendi has been one of Arsenal's best players this season. He has improved the midfield by leaps and bounds, and in many ways, he can be thanked for Arsenal being a brick wall ever since facing Man City.
Next up, Arsenal faces Slavia Prague away from home. Zubimendi will not be available to play in any capacity, due to his UEFA suspension now.
While we wouldn't want to predict this, Zubimendi's absence will certainly be felt in the next Champions League match. It is still winnable, and Arsenal should still win, but they might not be nearly as organized in the midfield as Zubimendi makes them.
That said, Arsenal does have some pretty good midfield backup. Myles Lewis-Skelly could slot in the midfield, Ethan Nwnari could play too. More likely, though, it will be a like-for-like replacement as Christian Nørgaard could do a pretty good job of filling that Zubimendi void.
Without a doubt, Zubimendi will be missed. If Arsenal goes onto beat Atlético Madrid, he can be forgiven for making the foul. Nevertheless, it doesn't make the pill any less bitter to swallow.