Liverpool thought he was their man. Manchester City had him on their long-list to fill a Rodri-shaped hole in Pep Guardiola’s midfield. Champions of Europe Real Madrid also sniffed around the situation.
So be under no illusion: Arsenal winning the race to sign Martin Zubimendi, the European Championship-winning midfielder of Real Sociedad, is an almighty coup.
Zubimendi is a down-to-earth character born and bred in the same region as Mikel Arteta, a true son of San Sebastian who reneged on a decision to join Liverpool this summer mainly due to his reluctance to leave the place he calls home.