Martin Zubimendi has opened up on how Mikel Arteta’s influence played a decisive role in his move to Arsenal, admitting that the Spanish manager’s passion and clarity convinced him to take the leap from Real Sociedad to north London.

The 26-year-old joined Arsenal in the summer for £55 million, a fee slightly above his £51 million release clause, allowing the Gunners to structure the payments more favourably.

He penned a five-year contract at the Emirates, completing a transfer that had been 12 months in the making after previously rejecting Liverpool’s approach in 2024.

A change of heart of Martin Zubimendi and reunion with Merino

Zubimendi had initially been expected to join Liverpool last year when the Merseyside club activated his release clause. However, the midfielder chose to stay loyal to his boyhood team, Real Sociedad, at the last minute.

That decision coincided with teammate Mikel Merino’s switch to Arsenal — a move that laid the groundwork for their future reunion.

Reflecting on the past year, Zubimendi told The Guardian that timing was everything.

“When any proposal comes, the first question has to be whether to stay at La Real. And it wasn’t the right moment to go,” he said. “I stayed, and it was a hard season, but I learned a lot. I wanted to step forward, take that weight after others went.”

The midfielder admitted that joining Merino in the Premier League this summer felt like a natural next step.

“I had watched Arsenal and I liked everything I saw — the passion, the youth, the feeling you got watching them. And when Mikel Arteta called me… well, if you’ve ever spoken to him, you’ll know that he can be very convincing.”

Arteta’s influence and vision

Zubimendi described Arteta as “mad about football” and meticulous in his approach.

“He’s crazy about having everything under control, trying to get something from every little detail. He’s very clear on everything, and the proposal he had was the best for me,” he added.

The Spaniard’s comments echo those of other Arsenal players who have credited Arteta’s communication and tactical clarity for the team’s transformation in recent years.

The manager’s ability to connect on both a personal and professional level continues to be one of the club’s biggest assets in the transfer market.

Ready for the Premier League challenge

Now adapting to life in England, Zubimendi acknowledges that the Premier League demands more physically and tactically than La Liga.

“The pivot has to be someone who is very complete; he has to have the best qualities with the ball and without it, plus the physical capability. He has to be able to do everything,” he explained.

He also sees his move as a crucial step for personal and professional growth.

“It would be easy to stay in my comfort zone, but I wanted to leave that environment with Real Sociedad and grow — to see another culture, another football,” he said.

“It’s in those situations where you are pushed to the limit that you get the best out of yourself. I think I have a lot to learn in the Premier League, a lot to improve, but I think I can do that.”

With his determination to evolve and Arteta’s guiding influence, Arsenal appear to have secured not only a technically gifted midfielder but one driven by ambition and curiosity — traits that could make Zubimendi a vital figure in the club’s long-term project.