(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
**Arsenal’s**3–0 victory over Nottingham Forest was full of positives, from another goal for Viktor Gyökeres to a clean sheet that never looked in doubt. Yet the defining story of the afternoon was Martin Zubimendi. Signed from Real Sociedad to give Arsenal control in the middle of the pitch, the Spaniard has often gone about his work quietly. Against Forest, he was anything but quiet. Two goals, both struck with precision and authority, transformed a routine league game into a statement about what he can bring to this side.
What made the performance significant was not only the goals themselves but the timing of them. Arsenal lost Martin Ødegaard to another shoulder problem early in the match, a moment that could easily have unsettled the team. Instead, Zubimendi took responsibility. He set the tone in midfield, ensuring Arsenal never lost their rhythm, and then found the quality in the final third to decide the game. For a player many viewed primarily as a holding midfielder, it was a reminder that his ceiling is much higher.
A Performance of Technique and Conviction
The first strike came from a half-cleared corner, a situation that often fizzles out when defenders push up. Zubimendi saw it differently. Positioning himself just outside the box, he met the ball as it dropped with a controlled volley, driving it into the net. The Emirates erupted, partly in surprise, partly in appreciation of the technique. It was the finish of someone who trusted his ability rather than playing safe.
His second goal, midway through the second half, was a different type of moment but just as telling. Rather than holding his position in the middle of the pitch, he gambled by arriving late in the box. When the ball was pulled back, Zubimendi was there, steadying himself to guide it beyond the goalkeeper with a header. These were not scrappy deflections or rebounds. They were goals that carried intent and belief.
Viktor Gyökeres, who scored Arsenal’s second in between the Spaniard’s brace, joked afterward that “I haven’t seen Zubimendi do that in training.” It was a throwaway line, but it summed up the sense of surprise. Even teammates had not necessarily expected him to carry that kind of attacking edge. Now they know he can.
Thriving in a Crowded Midfield
For much of the summer, the question around Arsenal’s midfield was how Mikel Arteta would fit everyone in. Declan Rice is too important to leave out. Mikel Merino arrived in form and brought goals of his own. Ødegaard, when healthy, remains the creative heartbeat. Zubimendi, in comparison, looked like the one who might struggle to find a clear role. Performances like this, though, force a rethink.
This was a display of more than just finishing. Zubimendi kept the tempo steady when Arsenal needed patience, pressed intelligently when Forest tried to play out, and showed positional awareness to cover his teammates. His goals were the headline, but his all-round game was equally impressive. He did the quiet work expected of him and added layers on top. That is the mark of a player adapting quickly to the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta made a point afterward about the way his squad is learning to form new partnerships. “A lot of new relationships on the pitch that you can start to see how they flourish,” he told BBC Sport. Zubimendi looked at the centre of those relationships, linking naturally with Eberechi Eze drifting inside, offering cover when Noni Madueke pushed high, and still finding the timing to break forward himself. It was the performance of a midfielder beginning to understand not just his role but the freedom he has within it.
Recognition and What Comes Next
The reaction from pundits was immediate. Martin Keown described Arsenal’s strength in depth as “a real scary show,” pointing to how players like Zubimendi and Eze stepped up without the usual stars. Peter Crouch highlighted how comfortable Arsenal’s midfield looked even with rotation, calling both Zubimendi and Merino “such technical footballers.” What was striking about the analysis was that Zubimendi was being spoken about not as a secondary figure, but as one of the game’s central stories.
Consistency will be the real test. Arsenal fans have seen midfielders shine in one-off games before. To truly change the perception of his role, Zubimendi will need to back this up with regular influence in the weeks to come. Yet this felt like a turning point. Instead of being viewed as a safe option, he has shown he can provide inspiration. That could be vital with Liverpool setting a relentless pace at the top of the table.
Arsenal will not want to become reliant on goals from their midfield, but having Zubimendi as a threat makes them less predictable and harder to contain. If defenders are worried about Gyökeres, Madueke, and Eze, and now have to think about a deep midfielder arriving late into the box, Arsenal suddenly look even more dangerous.
Conclusion: More Than a Metronome
Martin Zubimendi was brought to Arsenal for balance, composure, and control. Against Nottingham Forest he offered all of that, but also something far more eye-catching. Two well-taken goals, backed up by a performance full of intelligence and discipline, showed that he can be much more than the steady presence many expected.
Arsenal have found goals from unexpected sources before, but this felt different. It felt like the start of a player discovering how much he can offer on the biggest stage. For Arteta, it was another sign of his squad growing in depth and personality. For Liverpool and everyone else chasing the title, it was another reason to worry.