David Raya - Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
David Raya has hailed Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi as “incredible” and believes Liverpool missed out on a game-changing signing when the Spaniard turned down a move to Anfield before completing a £60 million switch to the Emirates.
Zubimendi, 26, joined the Gunners from Real Sociedad in July, becoming Mikel Arteta’s second arrival of the summer. The Spain international, who lifted the European Championship earlier this year, was close to joining Liverpool last summer but opted to remain in San Sebastián for one more season before making the step to the Premier League.
Since arriving in north London, Zubimendi has made an immediate impact. Despite battling illness on his Premier League debut against Manchester United, he has quickly grown into a key figure for Arteta’s side.
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His standout moment came at the weekend in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, where he scored twice, earned the Player of the Match award, and helped propel the Gunners back up to second in the table.
Martin Zubimendi
Martin Zubimendi scored twice against Nottingham Forest (Image credit: Getty Images)
Raya, who knows Zubimendi well from their time together with Spain, admitted he has been surprised by just how quickly the midfielder has adapted.
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“He’s incredible,” Raya said. “I’ve shared the dressing room with him in the national team and now he’s here he’s surprised me even more. He’s so intelligent, he knows how to play for the team, not for himself. His positioning in defence and attack is incredible. It’s a credit to have him.”
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher also weighed in, suggesting Arsenal’s manager played a decisive role in diverting the player’s path from Anfield to the Emirates.
“I’m convinced now that Mikel Arteta definitely stole him from Liverpool,” Carragher said on the Stick to Football podcast.
“He’d agreed to come, then at the last minute he said, ‘I’ll have another year at Sociedad.’ Arteta’s from the Basque area, and there’s no doubt he got into him and said, ‘We’ll come for you next season.’ That’s why he didn’t go to Liverpool. That’s just management.”
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