**By 1970s Gooner**
**
Martin Zubimendi had an excellent game last night against the eventual winners of the Nations League, Portugal.
I made a point of watching, when it was possible, Zubimendi play for Real Sociedad in La Liga. He is a very disciplined player who very rarely makes a wrong pass and keeps his position on the base of midfield dilligently.
He also does two more things that will be important for Arsenal or indeedany other team.
He drops back to receive the ball from the goalie and bring it out of the press without fail which releases other more attacking midfielders to move in more forward and thus promising positions.
The other attribute he has and which last night was the first time I've seen him do it is the ease and confidence he can move himself forward with the ball from defence to the final third of the pitch.
[](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4oqF9TsRvlX9gtSCJLhns1Vy4tt77cqJwh2c_1N2vtA6cqS_x4rchtiHx_L8eksSZ2x4yNTOsGr8ELiWJewQ_pTv-WIdOXEQ_0b_rKFegHsCwS5P_p-AAk0yJoGNgnvQj_wqMzvWE6ZDGGaIRMTzKga0rkLyMeNW7wARMzZGKRN4_avh1dkYlPSv_BXu/s615/0_SOCCER_Portugal_202854.jpg)
**
**No wonder Real want to hijack his move to Arsenal. This is despite every pundit, journalist and supposedly those in the know stating that this was almost a done deal and all that was left to do was the medical!**
**
Well it ain't so.**
**And the real reason for this is that Arsenal have only got an agreement with Zubimendi's club which entails meeting the release clause of 51 euros, a clause that they have to honour. They do not have a watertight agreement with the player.**
**But this does not mean that the player has agreed to the move. On the contrary, and judging by Zubimendi's recent eulogy with regard to his old coach Xabi Alonso, he is having second thoughts. Like he did last season with choosing not to move to Liverpool.**
**So the scene is set. Arsenal are pushing him to undergo the medical and he is probably waiting for Real to make their move. If they also meet the release clause then the chances of him moving to Arsenal are slim.**
**If however Real try to negotiate a lower fee than the release clause then Zubimendi will be squeezed from both sides. His club will be pushing him to choose Arsenal and Real will be urging him to declare his preference for them.**
**Watch this space...**