Arteta praise for midfielder casts doubt over £52m Arsenal pursuit | OneFootball

Arteta’s Partey praise puts Arsenal’s £52m Zubimendi transfer plan in doubt

Midfield jigsaw complicates Arsenal summer strategy

Mikel Arteta has always valued structure, balance, and a kind of clinical control that borders on the obsessive. Yet the summer transfer window often cares little for such precision, particularly when it comes to midfield recruitment. Just as Arsenal’s £52 million move for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi appeared to be a calculated, seamless replacement for the likely departure of Thomas Partey, Arteta appears to have muddied his own waters.

Photo IMAGO

Zubimendi, long admired at the Emirates and considered by many the natural heir to Partey’s defensive midfield role, has been on Arsenal’s radar since at least 2023. Football London reports that the Gunners are confident of winning the race for the Spain international, whose release clause sits at a modest, by Premier League standards, €60 million (£52.3m).

At 26, Zubimendi blends positional awareness with technical subtlety, offering a profile tailored for the high control, high tempo football Arteta insists upon. His consistent displays, even in a Sociedad side that ultimately failed to qualify for European competition, have attracted admiration from across the continent.

Arteta’s unexpected twist on Partey future

But this is Arsenal, where plans are rarely allowed to unfold without drama. Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s final Premier League fixture, Arteta delivered a statement that has sent ripples through the club’s summer transfer logic.

Photo: IMAGO

Asked directly if he wanted Partey to stay beyond the end of his contract, Arteta responded unequivocally:

It’s a manager doing what managers often do — defending his players, creating leverage, and perhaps sending a message to suitors. But it may also send another kind of message, this time to Zubimendi, who, by all indications, had been preparing to join a midfield in transition, not stagnation.

Zubimendi’s measured response and uncertain future

The player himself has remained publicly respectful, though subtle signals have been hard to miss. In an emotional message to Real Sociedad fans, Zubimendi reflected on his journey:

It reads like a farewell, albeit one wrapped in gratitude and carefully chosen words.

Club president Jokin Aperribay, speaking on Radio Marca Donostia, added further ambiguity:

So what now? Arsenal remain interested. The clause remains fixed. But the public praise of Partey complicates what had seemed a clear succession plan.

Balancing sentiment with strategy

Partey, for all his qualities, is no longer a long-term solution. Injuries have interrupted his rhythm, and while his performances in 2024 were impressive, Arsenal’s long-term ambitions surely demand fresh energy and consistency. Zubimendi provides both. If he is indeed Arsenal’s chosen man, then Arteta’s comments must be read more as diplomacy than declaration.

Photo: IMAGO

But summer windows are not just about logic. They are shaped by perception, momentum, and how a club projects itself to its targets. One false signal, one interview, and the entire direction of a deal can shift. In that context, clarity is as important as cash.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Another summer, another transfer window where Arsenal looks poised to execute a well-considered plan, only to see it complicated by mixed messaging and questionable timing.

Martin Zubimendi looks like exactly the kind of player they should be signing: composed on the ball, intelligent off it, and someone who clearly fits the profile Arsenal need if they want to progress. But hearing Arteta talk about keeping Thomas Partey just muddies the waters. Is it sentiment? Loyalty? Or just good media management?

Whatever the reason, it’s the kind of public statement that might give Zubimendi pause. If you’re preparing to leave the club you love, you want to know you’re walking into a situation where you’re valued, not one where your place is immediately under question.

We’ve seen this before from Arsenal: dithering, hedging bets, and then being left empty-handed. The club needs to be decisive. Partey has been useful, but he’s not the future. If they’re serious about competing with Liverpool and Manchester City, they need to act with purpose, not nostalgia.