Arsenal sports director Andrea Berta wanted to sign Arsenal to a different No. 6 from Martin Zubimendi in the summer transfer market.
The gunners were heavily strengthened in the summer with Zubimendi, Kepa Alizabaraga, Christian Norgado, Noni Madueke, Christia Mosquera, Victor Gyoker, Ebeki Eze and Piero Hincapie all in it.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has little excuse to not win this quarter Premier League title after finishing third consecutive year as runner-up in the English Top Flight.
Zubimendi could be an important piece of Arteta’s Jigsaw as it appears to bring glory to Emirates Stadium, but Spanish International could have lined up in Liverpool if it had not withdrawn its deal a year ago.
Zubimendi explained his decision a year ago to decline to move to the Premier League, saying, “It was the best decision to stay because I felt that Raal had provided me with more opportunities and there was still much to learn.”
Regarding his choice to move to Arsenal, which has the Basques growing at the club, he added: “It’s another change for me. It’s the change I wanted. Since the first day I came here, I’ve noticed the greatness of this club, and I’m adapting.”
Read: Liverpool’s Top Transfer Winner, Chelsea and, ultimately, Just Spurs
However, if new Arsenal sports director Berta arrived a few months ago, Zubimendi may not have played for gunners this season.
Athletic has revealed that most of the deals were already in place before Berta arrives, and that the sports director “likes” other candidates over Zubimendi.
The Athletic wrote: “Perhaps one outlier is Zubimendi. The framework for this contract was agreed before Berta joined the club. If he had been there before, there were other candidates in the No. 6 role he liked.
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch admitted that Declan Rice was “really difficult” as Dominique Skobosilai gave him a free kick in the second half, Zvimendi and Declan Rice defeated Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday.
Gravenberch told Liverpool’s official podcast: “Yes, in the first half it was really difficult to push them.
“They always had a solution and it was really difficult because Rice fell midfield to join Zubimendi.”
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Manchester United legend Paul Shoals was disappointed by his lack of creativity from Arsenal, who lost to Liverpool over the weekend.
Shoals said:
“We talked to Gareth Southgate and England about this. He managed to take them to the finals, but he didn’t think he could win the tournament in England. Arsenal wasn’t ready. It was a great opportunity to play a new player and make a statement.
“When I first saw the Arsenal team against Liverpool, I thought it wasn’t the team that would go to Anfield and blow it away, they couldn’t create opportunities.
“They brought in a centre forward (Viktor Gyökeres), but then they didn’t play Odegaard. They had a bit of a negative mindset. I remember going to Arsenal last year when I went to Manchester City to celebrate the draw, but this year we went to Anfield and managed to get a draw.
“When Liverpool scores, it’s very difficult to switch mentality going to the point and suddenly you have to create a chance and chase them. They couldn’t do that.”
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