Arsenal close in on signing “world-class” star

After beating Brentford on New 12 months’s Day, Arsenal have did not win any of their subsequent three video games.

Mikel Arteta’s facet drew with Brighton & Hove Albion within the Premier League after which misplaced to Newcastle United and Manchester United within the League Cup and FA Cup, respectively.

Regardless of conceding in every of these matches, the largest situation is proving to be the Gunners’ assault, and whereas membership captain Martin Odegaard appeared higher towards the Crimson Devils – bar his dreadful penalty, that’s – he has appeared someway off his sensational greatest this 12 months.

His poor type is undoubtedly partly all the way down to the ankle harm he suffered earlier within the season, however it may be all the way down to the chopping and altering of the midfield round him, so current reviews linking the membership to somebody who may very well be a mainstay within the workforce subsequent season and a dream teammate in addition, ought to excite followers.

Arsenal switch information

In accordance with a current report from talkSPORT’s Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook, Arsenal are critically thinking about signing Actual Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi this summer time.

Actually, Criminal goes one step additional, claiming that non-public phrases are “already in place” with the participant and that Liverpool at the moment are “not anticipated to revisit their curiosity.”

Criminal doesn’t point out how a lot the switch could value, however in one other report from earlier as we speak, journalist Sami Mokbel revealed that the Gunners will activate the £51m release clause within the Spaniard’s contract in the summertime.

It is undoubtedly some huge cash, however given Zubimendi’s capacity, it may show greater than value it, particularly as he may very well be a dream teammate for Odegaard.

Why Zubimendi can be a really perfect teammate

So, there are a number of the explanation why Zubimendi can be a wonderful teammate for Odegaard on this Arsenal workforce, and the primary is that they’ve already performed collectively.

Earlier than he joined the Gunners in 2021, the Norwegian maestro spent the 19/20 season on loan with Actual Sociedad, the place he performed with Mikel Merino in a midfield which the 25-year-old Spaniard then joined towards the end of the campaign.

The second motive he’d be an amazing teammate is that he is not often out injured, having missed just ten games since the start of the 20/21 marketing campaign.

That is extremely necessary, as his capacity to start out video games week-in-week-out ought to assist him construct footballing relationships together with his new teammates, preserve a way of continuity throughout the workforce and assist construct momentum.

As they are saying, availability is the perfect capacity.

Lastly, as his underlying numbers present, the “world-class” worldwide, as dubbed by Spanish football writer Alexandra Jonson, is able to fulfilling each the defensive and offensive duties of enjoying on the base of midfield, thus permitting Odegaard to focus his consideration on what’s occurring on the sharp finish of the pitch.

For instance, according to FBref, the 25-year-old sits within the high 5% of midfielders in Europe’s high 5 leagues, the Champions League and Europa League for profitable take-on proportion and proportion of aerial duels gained, the highest 10% for proportion of dribblers tackled, the highest 11% for clearances, the highest 12% for passes blocked, the highest 15% for pictures blocked and extra, all per 90.

Finally, it won’t make a distinction this season, however the information that Arsenal are primed to signal Zubimendi in the summertime ought to critically excite the followers, as with him within the workforce, Odegaard may have extra licence to get ahead and play to his full potential.

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