Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi will be suspended for the Gunners' next Champions League clash - but he will not miss the vital match against Bayern Munich.
Zubimendi was deployed alongside Declan Rice in the north Londoners' clash against Atletico Madrid. Both the Spaniard and the England talisman came into the contest on a yellow card which were picked up in an earlier match in Europe.
The ex-Real Sociedad midfielder brought down an Atletico player close to the touchline and then reacted angrily to the decision. Referee Davide Massa pulled out the yellow card to the frustration of Zubimendi and the Arsenal fans.
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His booking means he will miss the away trip to Slavia Praha in the Gunners' next Champions League match on Tuesday November 4. However, the bigger picture is better for Arsenal as it means he will not be absent for the crucial home clash against Bayern Munich on November 26.
Explaining the rules on suspensions as a result of yellow card accumulation, the official UEFA website says: "From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card."
Zubimendi has been one of Arsenal's most important players this season. The Spaniard has operated as the deepest-lying playmaker at the hear of Mikel Arteta's midfield.
Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on October 21, 2025 in London, England
Zubimendi picked up another yellow card for Arsenal in the Champions League (Image: 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)
His arrival from Sociedad in a deal worth around £60million, has enabled Declan Rice to maraud forward and make a difference in the front-line. Zubimendi's slick movement and clever football brain has also played a key role in the way in which Arsenal beat the press.
He did also score a brace in the 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, hitting a fierce volley and flicking in a clever header. Of course, Arteta would much rather have Zubimendi available for every Arsenal game in all competitions.
But with the huge number of games coming their way during the festive period, as well as the fact he will not be at risk of suspension ahead of the clash with Bayern, Arteta will be able to find the positive side. Zubimendi recently explained his decision to choose Arsenal over a potential move to Real Madrid in the summer.
Martin Zubimendi of Arsenal talks to head coach Mikel Arteta of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Arsenal Stadium on October 1, 2025 in London, United Kingdom
Zubimendi is vital for Arteta (Image: 2025 DeFodi Images)
Xabi Alonso was understood to be interested in signing the EURO 2024 winner and making him the anchor of Los Blancos' midfield. However, he opted to move to the Emirates Stadium instead of the Bernabeu.
In a recent interview he said: "I don’t know, you get a feeling. Once I decided to leave Sociedad, Arsenal was a team that, from what I’d seen, suited me well, especially in terms of play.
"I also wanted a very detail-oriented manager, and in Mikel, as soon as I spoke to him, I found him. At Arsenal there was a very young team, with a lot of passion, very close-knit, eager to win, and even though they haven’t been able to do so, that makes them even more eager.”
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