Operation Sociedad successful: this is how Arsenal got exactly what it wanted

It may have taken longer than expected, but Martin Zubimendi is finally an Arsenal player.

After years of speculation, one failed attempt last summer, and a carefully coordinated recruitment strategy behind the scenes, the 26-year-old Spanish midfielder has completed his move to North London. Arsenal paid just under seventy million euros to secure his services from Real Sociedad, and while the price tag is significant, the club is convinced they’ve brought in not just a top-level talent, but a player specifically tailored for Mikel Arteta’s footballing vision. Zubimendi’s transfer wasn’t an impulsive decision it was part of a long-term plan that began taking shape more than a year ago, when Arsenal first negotiated with Sociedad for Mikel Merino. That deal was the first phase of what Arteta later described as a “well-executed plan” involving multiple transfer windows. Speaking to the BBC, the Arsenal manager explained how the club had mapped out a two-stage approach, securing Merino first and waiting for the right moment to go for Zubimendi. According to Arteta, both players were fully on board from the beginning, and Sociedad proved to be a reasonable negotiating partner that understood the players’ ambitions and the structure of the deal.

Zubimendi, for his part, had already come close to leaving Sociedad last summer. Liverpool, under their new manager Arne Slot, showed serious interest, and a move to Anfield was a real possibility. But the midfielder chose to stay in the Basque Country for one more season, a decision he now says was difficult but ultimately correct. He felt there was still more to achieve and learn at his boyhood club and believed that rushing into a transfer might not serve his long-term development. That final season in Spain allowed him to continue evolving as a player, maintaining his high performance in La Liga and adding to his maturity and leadership within the team. Now, however, he believes the time is right, and the project at Arsenal, led by Arteta, was the only one that truly convinced him.

Zubimendi arrives at Arsenal as part of a wider rebuild aimed at turning the Gunners into serious contenders for both domestic and European titles. Alongside him, the club has already brought in Christian Nørgaard to bolster the midfield’s physical presence and tactical balance, Noni Madueke to add creativity and pace out wide, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to provide experienced competition in goal. The arrival of striker Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting CP is also imminent and expected to give Arsenal a powerful new option up front an area many considered the team’s weak point last season. But among all the new signings, Zubimendi is arguably the most strategic. His style of play calm, intelligent, positionally disciplined makes him a perfect fit for the kind of control-based football Arteta wants to play. He isn’t flashy, but he is remarkably consistent, with the kind of spatial awareness and composure that Arsenal have sometimes lacked in the deepest midfield areas. With him, Arteta gains not just a new first-choice option, but a player who will allow the team to rotate and adapt without losing tactical stability.

The midfielder has wasted no time integrating into his new surroundings. On Wednesday, he made his unofficial debut in Arsenal colours during a 1-0 win over AC Milan in a pre-season friendly. He played the second half and quickly impressed with his passing range and control in tight spaces. Bukayo Saka scored the match’s only goal, and while a post-game penalty shootout for training purposes was won by Milan, the real story was Zubimendi’s seamless transition into Arsenal’s midfield. Speaking after the match, the Spaniard reflected on his early impressions of the team. He said that even last season, he considered Arsenal to be one of the few sides that really stood up to PSG in the Champions League. In his view, the reason they didn’t win that clash came down to small details not a lack of quality. That experience convinced him even more that this Arsenal side is ready to compete at the highest level, and he made clear that he wanted to be part of that journey.

Zubimendi also praised Mikel Arteta, calling him one of the best coaches in Europe and highlighting the clarity with which the manager presents his ideas to the squad. He noted the intensity of the training sessions and the professionalism within the dressing room. For him, coming to Arsenal isn’t just about playing in the Premier League it’s about growing as a footballer within a system that suits his strengths and demands constant improvement. He knows competition for places will be fierce, especially in a midfield that includes Declan Rice, Nørgaard, Merino, and others, but he welcomes it. In his words, it’s going to be a long season with many matches, and injuries will happen, so the more quality the team has, the better.

His transfer also reflects a shift in Arsenal’s recruitment strategy under Edu and Arteta. Rather than chasing last-minute deals or relying on opportunistic signings, the club has focused on multi-window planning, targeting players who fit their tactical identity and personality profile. Zubimendi is a clear example of this, with Arteta confirming that the idea of signing him had been in motion even before Merino arrived. The midfielder’s decision to wait a year and join now only strengthened Arsenal’s belief in his commitment and maturity.

The excitement around Zubimendi’s arrival is matched by a sense of unfinished business at Arsenal. After narrowly missing out on the Premier League title last season and falling just short in Europe, expectations for the upcoming campaign are high. The squad is deeper, the manager has more experience, and the style of play is more refined than ever. Zubimendi steps into a team hungry for success and ready to challenge on all fronts. For the player, the club, and the fans, the hope is that this long-planned transfer will be one of the final pieces needed to deliver silverware to the Emirates.