There have been a lot of unfair takes about [Arsenal](https://goonernews.com/) star defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi recently, many of which miss the point. Because as Mikel Arteta and upper management predicted, the former Real Sociedad star has been a rousing success, offering the Gunners a sense of control even they did not enjoy last season.
Zubimendi has been one of the better defensive midfielders in the Premier League this season, forming a fearsome axis with the world class Declan Rice. His ability to win possession has added another dimension to this team, and his off ball positioning is nearly peerless in European football.
But he wasn’t at his best against Chelsea over the weekend. Arsenal won and Zubi played excellently defensively, but he struggled to accurately move the ball against Moises Caicedo and the Chelsea midfield.
This year of 2026, Zubimendi has just one key pass, and while Rice provides creativity from deep, Zubimendi’s lack of pure athleticism and ability to create chances or get further ahead on his own are becoming an issue in the biggest games against top teams like Chelsea.
That is the reason why Arsenal are so adamant on dreaming about a swoop for Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali, who just might be the most in demand midfielder on the transfer market this year.
Tonali has what Zubimendi is missing. Zubi is the superior defensive player and metronome, but Tonali is an elite athlete who is so good at creating chaos and creating chances with inventive passing.
The Newcastle man can be a great equalizer against the biggest teams in England and the Champions League, and as good as Zubimendi is, Tonali offers another dimension Arsenal want for their midfield.
Joe Soriano is the editor of _The Trivela Effect_ and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like _The Real Champs_ (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage _NFL Spin Zone_ and _Daily DDT,_ covering the NFL and pro wrestling.