Andrea Berta had his sights set on another midfield anchor, not Martin Zubimendi, when it came to Arsenal’s No.6 hunt.
The Zubimendi deal was sealed before Berta came in
When Andrea Berta stepped in as **Arsenal**’s sporting director, much of the groundwork for Martin Zubimendi’s move had already been laid. Reports suggest the deal was practically wrapped up before his arrival. That left Berta little room to shape the club’s plans.
The Spaniard almost pulled out of a potential Liverpool switch last year, He is now part of Mikel Arteta’s squad and seen as a key piece in their push for PL glory. But the twist lies in the fact that if Berta had joined earlier, Arsenal fans might have seen a very different player wearing that No.6 shirt.
Sources close to the matter hint that he had alternative names in mind. Berta wasn’t fully sold on Zubimendi as the best fit for the Gunners’ midfield.
🚨 The framework for Martin Zubimendi’s deal was already in place before Andrea Berta arrived. If he had been in charge earlier, he would have pushed for other preferred options in the #6 role. [@gunnerblog] pic.twitter.com/Vr8NJDnG4b
— Arsenal Folio 📕 (@Arsenal_Folio) September 2, 2025
Arteta’s trust in the player
Arteta has been clear that Zubimendi is key to his plans. He adds control and balance alongside Declan Rice in games where the middle of the pitch is everything. **Liverpool**’s Ryan Gravenberch even admitted after their recent clash that both Rice and Zubimendi were tough to press. This proves their quality despite the 1-0 loss at Anfield.
Although, Berta wanted Arsenal to go a different way through the summer window. It’s no secret that there was some tension between the Berta’s vision of a long-term recruitment process and the Arteta’s confidence with the players he already has.
If results don’t go Arsenal’s way, it could create some interesting debates. For now, Zubimendi is still part of Arteta’s view of the bigger picture. Now, whether he helps to finally end Arsenal’s PL wait will determine how he’s judged.
Author’s Opinion:
Zubimendi looks like the right fit for Arsenal’s midfield on paper, but Berta’s doubts make things interesting. If the north London side fall short again, questions about whether the right No.6 was chosen will only get louder.