Mikel Arteta gave his Gunners squad two days off following their dramatic late win over Wolves last Saturday
11:47, 18 Dec 2025
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during a training session(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal do not have any injury concerns about Martin Zubimendi and are instead managing his workload during the jam-packed festive period.
Mikel Arteta gave his Gunners squad two days off following their dramatic late win over Wolves last Saturday night. The title-chasing players returned to their London Colney base to take part in an open training session on Tuesday.
But Zubimendi was not part of the first-team group, sparking concerns that he was an injury doubt heading into the crunch clash with Everton this Saturday.
However, football.london understands that there are no injury concerns regarding the midfielder and Arteta and his coaching staff are keen to manage his workload.
The Spain international worked away from the main group, with the Arsenal hierarchy wary that this will be Zubimendi's first season without a winter break.
The 26-year-old has only previously played in LaLiga with Real Sociedad and has been a huge success following his £60million move in the summer.
Arteta is keen to protect his player, given the amount of football he has already played this season. Only Declan Rice and David Raya have played more minutes in the Premier League this season.
Zubimendi has started every match in the top-flight, as well as getting the nod in first XI in five of the club's six Champions League fixtures - he missed the clash with Slavia Prague due to suspension.
The Gunners have a relentless run of fixtures coming up, with the trip to Everton kicking off seven matches in 22 days. Ahead of that clash with Everton, Bukayo Saka said the Premier League title leaders must "reset".
Mikel Arteta's side needed two Wolves own goals – one of them arriving in the fourth minute of stoppage time – to snatch a 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium and ensure they ended last weekend still at the summit of the Premier League.
Arsenal played seven times in 21 days but will get a week off before facing Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
“It’s been a really, really busy schedule,” said Saka. “Credit to all the boys and the staff because we’ve been so intense, but we’ve been on it and we’ve had some amazing results.
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“It’s nice that we have a bit of a break, but it’s not time to relax, it’s just a time to reset a bit and then go again in the training sessions and be ready for Everton.”
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