Arsenal have been denied the chance to watch long-term transfer target Martin Zubimendi in action for Real Sociedad against Premier League opposition. The Spanish club were drawn to face Manchester United in the Europa League last-16, but the defensive midfielder will miss the first leg.
Zubimendi has been linked with a move to Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Barcelona in recent transfer windows, However he has opted to stay at his boyhood club, which saw him recently pass 200 senior appearances, after most recently rejecting the chance to become Arne Slot's first signing at Anfield.
Despite that, in just a few months he looks to have had a significant change of heart with it widely claimed a summer switch to Arsenal has been all but finalised. If that scenario does play out, the 26-year-old would join Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard as players to have played for both Sociedad and the Gunners.
However, he is not representing the former on Thursday evening with Man United in town. Despite being arguably Sociedad's most important player, Zubimendi was not named in the matchday squad to face Ruben Amorim's side.
"He had a very bad night and woke up with a fever. We decided to send him home," head coach Imanol Alguacil revealed ahead of the clash. Given his absence is not due to injury, Zubimendi featuring in the second leg at Old Trafford next week is likely.
This weekend, Arsenal visit the home of United for a Premier League clash with Mikel Arteta and Co. hoping to benefit from the quick turnaround for their opponents especially as they battered PSV 7-1 on Tuesday night in their own European first leg which makes the second leg at Emirates Stadium relatively dead rubber.
It could however, be an opportunity for the likes of Jakub Kiwior, Raheem Sterling and Jorginho to get needed minutes with Zubimendi very possibly coming in as the latter's replacement as his contract expires this summer.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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