The coming months could be seismically important for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard led his side to a third successive second-place finish in the Premier League this season, so it feels like the club must seriously back him and the squad in the transfer window this summer to ensure they can get over the line next year.
Fortunately, that seems to be happening, as the board have already renewed Gabriel Magalhães' contract, seem close to securing the services of Kepa Arrizabalaga for just £5m, and most exciting of all, appear to have secured the signing of Martin Zubimendi.
zubimendi-spain
The Spanish international will be a brilliant addition to the Gunners' squad, but if recent reports are to be believed, the club are now looking at another midfield maestro, someone who's an even bigger talent than the Real Sociedad star.
Arsenal moving to sign midfield monster
It feels like Arsenal have been trying to sign Zubimendi for an eternity, with some of the earliest links to the Spanish international appearing all the way back in January 2023.
However, in January of this year, Sami Mokbel broke the news that the club had all but sewn up a move for the Real Sociedad star, who rejected Liverpool only last summer.
While the deal hasn't been officially confirmed by either team, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano revealed just a few days ago that the 26-year-old will cost the Gunners around £55m, which will be paid in installments.
While this is undoubtedly exciting news, it looks as if the North Londoners might not be finished with their midfield revamp, with reports now suggesting that the club want to sign Eduardo Camavinga.
At least that is according to journalist Sebastien Vidal, who, in a recent report, revealed that Arsenal are incredibly interested in the Real Madrid superstar.
camavinga-real-madrid
In fact, he has claimed that the Gunners have already made contact over the player but that the Spanish giants will not sell unless a big offer is made, which, according to other reports, might be around £50m.
It wouldn't be a cheap or simple transfer to get over the line, but given Camavinga's ability, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he's a bigger talent than Zubimendi.
Why Camavinga is a bigger talent than Zubimendi
Now, it is important to clarify that both midfielders are enormously talented footballers and that Arsenal will benefit massively from signing either one, but when it comes down to raw talent, it looks like the Real Madrid ace has the slight edge, and there are a few things that suggest as much.
The first is that even though the Frenchman is four years the Spaniard's junior, he has already achieved far more in the club game, winning two La Liga titles, a Club World Cup, and most importantly, two Champions League titles.
Moreover, he wasn't just a passenger for those triumphs, making ten appearances on the way to Real's win in the 21/22 season and then 11 appearances, of which nine were starts, during their successful 23/24 campaign.
Camavinga-Vinicius
On top of that, the Cabinda-born maestro has also won more senior caps for France than the Basque star has for Spain, and while he's not got a European Championship to his name, he did start in the 2022 World Cup Final, and there probably isn't a bigger game in world sports than that.
Finally, away from tangible achievements, the "world-class" Los Blancos star, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, simply has the better underlying numbers, which, again, suggests he's a bigger talent.
Camavinga vs Zubimendi
Statistics per 90
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
Non-Penalty G+As
Progressive Passes
Progressive Carries
Shots
Shots on Target
Passing Accuracy
Key Passes
Passes into the Final Third
Passes into the Penalty Area
Live Passes
Through Balls
Shot-Creating Actions
Goal-Creating Actions
Tackles Won
Blocks
Interceptions
Clearances
Successful Take-Ons
Ball Recoveries
Aerial Duels Won
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season
For example, not only does the former Stade Rennais gem produce a higher non-penalty goals plus assists figure, but he also plays more key passes and wins more tackles all per 90.
In other words, the young Frenchman is a complete midfielder who can help out the backline before bursting forward - look at his progressive carries - and playing a killer pass for one of his teammates or putting the ball in the net himself.
Eduardo-Camavinga-Real-Madrid
Ultimately, while Zubimendi is going to be a great signing, Arsenal would do well to pick up Camavinga as well, as he appears to be an even bigger talent.
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Arsenal appearing to be keepign a close eye on a move for one leading European talent.