Liverpool may have beaten Arsenal to the 2024-25 Premier League title, but Mikel Arteta‘s men can celebrate one small victory over the Reds in the transfer market.
Indeed, esteemed journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Saturday morning that the Gunners had reached a verbal agreement to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who was on his way to Anfield last summer before having a change of heart.
One year later, the Euro 2024 winner is finally ready to take the Premier League leap, and with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch excelling at the base of the Liverpool midfield, the Premier League champions no longer have a desperate need for Zubimendi.
However, as Arsenal currently stand to lose both Thomas Partey and Jorginho when their contracts run out at the end of the season, striking a deal for Zubimendi was of paramount importance, and the Gunners will soon activate his £50.8m release clause after getting the green light from the player.
Here, Sports Mole looks at Zubimendi’s shirt number history and what numbers he could take at Arsenal ahead of his summer arrival.
Zubimendi faces Ben White battle to follow in Patrick Vieira‘s footsteps
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For the past two seasons, Zubimendi has proudly sported the number four shirt for Real Sociedad, the same jersey famously worn by Patrick Vieira throughout the Invincibles captain’s Gunners career.
Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Cesc Fabregas and Ray Parlour have also donned the ‘4’ for Arsenal, but that number is currently in Ben White’s possession and has been ever since his arrival in 2021.
While it would be fitting for Zubimendi to inherit Vieira’s ‘4’ as he tries to replicate the Frenchman’s domineering midfield displays, White is not expected to give up that number, so the Spaniard will have to seek out other available jerseys.
Zubimendi has also been bestowed with the ‘3’ and ’36’ shirts at Real Sociedad, and the former will actually become vacant this summer when Kieran Tierney returns to Celtic, although that would be a surprise choice for a defensive midfielder.
Meanwhile, the ’36’ is in the possession of third-choice goalkeeper Tommy Setford, but the departure of Zubimendi’s predecessor could see the Spain international inherit the traditional defensive midfielder’s jersey.
How Zubimendi could claim number six shirt at Arsenal
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Arsenal are thought to be open to keeping Partey and have initiated contract discussions with his entourage, but if the Ghana international does not extend, his number five shirt will await its next taker.
There is every chance that Gabriel Magalhaes will swap from his current ‘6’ to the more recognisable ‘5’ for centre-backs, meaning that Zubimendi could be Arsenal’s new number six both in terms of playing style and shirt numbers.
The Real Sociedad man has sported the number six shirt for Spain in recent times, and he would be emulating the legendary George Graham and Adams – who wore that jersey for 17 years – by taking it at Arsenal.
The Gunners are also without a ’13’, ’14’ and ’16’ following recent exits, but if Partey does end his five-year Arsenal stint this summer, the stars should align for Zubimendi to grace the Emirates with the ‘6’ on his back.
