At a Glance:
Arsenal lifted the Premier League title on Sunday afternoon.
Martin Zubimendi played the final game of the campaign at right-back.
The Spaniard joined Jens Lehmann in the history books in the process.
Arsenal lifted the Premier League title on Sunday afternoon, and midfielder Martin Zubimendi made history in the process.
The Gunners were crowned champions on Tuesday night when Bournemouth held Manchester City to a draw at the Vitality Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s team then drew their domestic campaign to a close by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
The Champions were then coronated in South London, lifting the iconic Premier League trophy in front of 3,000 away fans. This ends 22-years of hurt for the North Londoners, and several of their players have enjoyed historic seasons while helping Arteta’s team achieve this feat.
Martin Zubimendi joins Jens Lehmann in history books
Zubimendi has endured a difficult second half of the season. The Spaniard took North London by storm in his opening six months in the English capital, dominating midfields with his engine, metronomic passing and ability to break into the box to get on the end of moves.
However, in the second portion of the campaign, the toll of playing almost every minute of every game has caught up with him. He’s looked laboured and has struggled to deal with the intensity of the Premier League.
That said, this overwhelming number of minutes has allowed him to join an exclusive club. After playing at right-back at Selhurst Park, Zubimendi became just the second ever player to win the title and feature in every match in his first season in the Premier League, after Jens Lehmann in 2003/04, according to OptaJoe.
38 – Martin Zubimendi is just the second ever player to win the title and play every game in his first season in the Premier League (excluding 1992-93), after Jens Lehmann in 2003-04. Champions. #CRYARS pic.twitter.com/m5JfvAo8pF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 24, 2026
This is a testament to his incredible durability and reliability, and is a reminder that his debut campaign in the hardest league in the world should arguably be looked at more fondly. He may have waned under the pressure and due to exhaustion, but he was ultimately a critical piece of this title-winning season.
Will Martin Zubimendi start against Paris Saint-Germain?
Next up for Arsenal is Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest. Arteta’s men have six days to prepare for this European showdown, which takes place at the Puskas Arena on Saturday.
The tactician will have a few key team selection decisions to make for the clash, one of which includes Zubimendi. Myles Lewis-Skelly has impressed in midfield of late, and has seemingly usurped Zubimendi in the pecking order, at least for the time being.
However, the Euro 2024 winner’s experience, as well as his long-standing connection with Declan Rice, makes him the conservative candidate. Arteta tends to lean on pragmatism in the big moments, and thus, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him revert to Zubimendi.
That said, Lewis-Skelly probably ought to be picked given the form and rhythm he has at this pivotal stage of the campaign.