What would Martin Zubimendi's arrival mean for Arsenal's midfield?

David Ornstein's Tuesday transfer bomba was not the one Arsenal supporters were expecting, but a bomba, at the end of the day, is a bomba. That serotonin release was sweet.

Arsenal are very much expected to move for a forward or two during the January transfer window given their recent profligacy and injury woes. After losing Bukayo Saka to a hamstring tear in December, the club recently confirmed the worst-case scenario regarding Gabriel Jesus' knee injury.

“We know who we want to sign. We have very clear ideas of the players that we want, yes," Mikel Arteta asserted ahead of Wednesday's North London Derby, and I do wonder whether the Martin Zubimendi news which dropped a little more than 24 hours before Tottenham's visit was done with intent. The Emirates could do with a pick-me-up after back-to-back defeats. What better than some shiny new toy syndrome to boost morale?

Zubimendi is a name not foreign to us given Arsenal and Arteta's long-standing interest. However, prising him away from San Sebastian has proven to be a fruitless task for several clubs. Liverpool came close last summer, while Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City have all reportedly boasted prior interest. This would be a big coup for the Gunners and a sign that Mikel's project is not dying a slow, profligate death.

"Can he play up top?", "I'm glad we're focussing on our winter priorities!" I hear you snarl with Chander Bing-like irony. Still, Arsenal are fixing a future issue by targeting Zubimedi, who'd arrive in the summer. Nine goals in 210 senior appearances suggest Arteta won't fancy using him as a makeshift #9, but Arsenal may well be replacing two players and a bucket-load of wages by bringing the gifted 25-year-old in. Zubimendi's potential arrival surely spells the end for Thomas Partey and Jorginho in north London with their respective contracts expiring in June.

We know Arsenal are getting a venerated performer in Zubimendi, but what does it mean for the make-up of the Gunners' midfield? Arteta is insistent on boasting an array of contrasting midfield profiles to facilitate unpredictability, and Arsenal have acquired a player once touted to be the air to Sergio Busquets' throne in Spain.

What player are Arsenal signing in Martin Zubimendi?

Zubimendi is primarily a number six who operates with slick intelligence and efficiency in possession. His work is subtle - not one for highlight reels. Without the ball, the Spaniard is positionally sound and a shrewd tracker of runs. He leads La Liga with 70 combined tackles and interceptions this season, but there is scope for Zubimendi to suffer physically in the Premier League. The 25-year-old does remind me of Jorginho in many ways, but there's scope for Arteta to unlock Zubimendi's creative prowess and dynamism in possession. He could be an Alexis Mac Allister-like figure.

With Zubimendi likely to operate as Arsenal's deepest-lying midfielder, many have suggested that the writing is on the wall for Declan Rice to function as Mikel's left-sided #8 long-term. However, we could see a reversion in dynamics. Rice and Zubimendi would work tremendously well as a double pivot. Perhaps a 4-2-3-1 (a throwback to 2021/22 when Granit Xhaka and Partey were both fit) shift is on the cards.

Rice developed a great partnership with Jorginho last season, with the pinnacle of that relationship manifesting in the 3-1 win over Liverpool - arguably the most emphatic victory over top-level opposition of the Arteta era. That day, we saw Arsenal operate with a 4-2-4 and a box midfield. Rice and Jorgi functioned at the base with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz the two advanced corners, flanked by Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka respectively.

There's not going to be one optimal solution, with Arteta's plethora of midfield profiles allowing him to chop and change depending on the opposition and game situation. Tactical chameleons, and all that. The framework has evolved from the scintillating 2022/23 campaign, which was predictable from a dynamics perspective. You may find it hard to believe given how unwatchable Arsenal have been at times this season, but Arteta's team are more fluid (in terms of positional rotations and array of configurations) than ever before, especially in the build-up phase and when entering the final third.

Zubimendi's potential arrival has doubled down on Arteta's intent to evolve, and Arsenal's midfield is bound to emerge as one with mitigation for any challenge. This is an engine room with metronomes, all-rounders, duellers and pocket players: combinations aplenty.

Forwards now, please!

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