"The composure of the midfield duo was crucial. Martin Zubimendi played a key role in shaping the flow of the game with his partner Declan Rice." That was the verdict of UEFA Technical Observer Fatih Terim after seeing Arsenal advance to a second successive UEFA Champions League semi-final last night.
Arsenal's successful management of the game, as they defended their 1-0 first-leg advantage, was embodied by Player of the Match Zubimendi, who helped bring the control mentioned by Terim and which is explored in the following analysis, brought to you by FedEx.
As it happened: Arsenal 0-0 Sporting CP
Champions League In the Zone: Zubimendi in possession
Zubimendi chose the right moments to attack and defend, and the first video gives a flavour of his attacking work. The Spain midfielder showed great awareness, helped by how he scans before receiving the ball and always plays with his head up as witnessed in the video above.
He was constantly on the move, looking to pass forward, and his passing was an impressive feature of his play: he completed all 25 of his passes in his own half and ended the game joint-first for line-breaking passes in the final third. "They were particularly successful in maintaining possession in the first half," said Terim.
Out of possession
By Zubimendi's own admission, Arsenal "lacked a bit of clarity in the final third and on the back of that they [Sporting CP] had a few counterattacks" and this brings us to his contribution out of possession, which included 13 defensive actions – five in his own half, eight in Sporting's.
Champions League In the Zone: Zubimendi defending in both halves
The second video features Zubimendi at work in Sporting's half in clip one, as he protects space and then, as the sequence continues, provides cover behind Noni Madueke and makes an interception to halt the visitors' counterattack.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta commented on how well his team responded "in moments of difficulty where we gave the ball away", praising "how willing everyone is", and Zubimendi was at the forefront of securing their eighth clean sheet of this European campaign.
We have already highlighted how Arsenal's midfielders protect their defenders and clip two offers an example from Zubimendi as he defends in his own half, tracking the threatening run and blocking the cross.
Zubimendi's own verdict, given to Cadena Ser, was as follows: "We suffered a bit but luckily we defend very well and are very solid," he said, and those words applied to him as much as anybody in Arsenal red last night.
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