This summer, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is already creating a stir. Real Sociedad metronome Martin Zubimendi, 26, is anticipated to be officially added after Fabrizio Romano declared that all parties had verbally agreed.
The north Londoners, who were denied the opportunity to win a trophy again following their Champions League elimination, are about to activate the Spaniard’s €60 million release clause.
Declan Rice, who is a box-to-box presence and non-negotiable in the middle, is able to fully utilize his diverse skill set. Zubimendi can help with that, but how does his season-long stat line stack up against those of Rice and Thomas Partey?
Given the allure of Spanish-infused football (think Andres Iniesta and Xaxi’s telepathic and visually appealing play), one might assume Zubimendi would thrive in confined surroundings. However, his 2024–25 season statistics show that this isn’t the case.
First of all, he has received the fewest touches (67.1) of any player, but considering his position, that may not be a cause for concern. He is not the kind of midfielder who wants to dictate the pace or fling a variety of balls in his teammates’ direction; instead, he likes to keep things straightforward and low-risk.
His total of 53.3 attempted passes per game serves as proof of such. When compared to Rice, that may indicate his willingness to participate, but the Englishman explodes forward while Arsenal’s defenders do much of the heavy lifting in that area.
The strongest of the three is Partey, one of the highest-paid African football players. He has lost control the fewest times (9.6 to Zubimendi’s 11.2 and Rice’s 11.6), attempted the most passes (including ones inside the opposition half), and taken the most touches.
But don’t be fooled by the table below; Zubimendi’s ability to cling onto the ball and use his rangy physique to shrug off opponents is one of his strong features. He’s perfect for Rice, who will be dominating the field with his newly acquired freedom.
Statistics on Zubimendi, Rice, and Partey’s Possession
A statistic
Zubimendi
Rice
Partey
Feelings
67.1
64.6
74.1
Attempted Passes
53.3
47.4
59.3
Accuracy of Passing (%)
84.09
89.9
88.72
Passes Completed (Opp. Half)
22.6
27.7
29.1
Backward Passes
7.7
8.7
9.5
Sideway Passes
28.9
27.2
34.1
Possession Lost
11.2
11.6
9.6
Chance Creation Statistics
Rice the strongest of the trio
At this point in the football season, any part of the field can create a chance. Whether it’s a full-back who sprints up and down the flank like it’s going out of style or a winger who cuts in and finds the center-forward with a clever pass, it doesn’t matter.
Nevertheless, it is evident that Rice, who is considered to be among the top midfield players in the world of football, is the finest of the group. He has generated 1.9 midfield chances per 90 this season, compared to Zubimendi and Partey’s lackluster performances.
But that is, of course, more what Rice is catered to do – especially should Arsenal officially get a deal over the line for the Real Sociedad midfielder, who has completed the most forward passes per 90 when compared to the Emirates Stadium duo.
The Spaniard’s take-on success, as a defensive midfielder-in-chief, is equally outstanding. Although Partey’s rate of successful take-ons (70.97%) tops that of the soon-to-be Gunner, and Rice, for that matter, he has still tallied up a success rate of 66.67% – which is virtually two thirds.
Zubimendi, Rice & Partey – Chance Creation Statistics
A statistic
Zubimendi
Rice
Partey
Assists
0.1
0.3
0.1
Chances Created
0.6
1.9
0.7
Passes Forward
16.8
11.7
15.9
Take-on Achievement (%)
66.67
48.15
70.97
Statistics for Defense
A place where the Real Sociedad man flourishes
Now let’s talk about the area of football where Zubimendi excels: defense. All championship-winning teams strive for this art because it makes them difficult to defeat, even though it isn’t always beautiful. His aerial duel success (%) and clearance and interceptions numbers are self-evident.
Just a cursory look makes it quite evident why Arteta and his group are so eager to hire him. In addition to having the most clearances and interceptions this season, he has won 61.45% of his aerial duels, compared to Rice’s 56.14% and Partey’s 53.06%, respectively.
He does lose out on winning the gold medal for most tackles made, but not by much. Even though Partey’s score of 2.9 is higher than the Euro 2024 star’s 2.4, he still has a remarkable ability to break up games and give to others so they can shine.
Zubimendi and Partey have recovered the ball 4.4 times per 90, which still demonstrates their combination of timing and hard work in the tackle. Of the three, Rice has accumulated the most ball recoveries since the 2024–25 season began (4.9).
Rice, Partey, and Zubimendi: Defensive Statistics
A statistic
Zubimendi
Rice
Partey
Made Tackles
2.4
1.8
2.9
Success Rate for Aerial Duels (%)
61.45
56.14
53.06
Success in the Ground Duel (%)
56.38
49.08
58.56
Clearances
2.5
1.5
1.5
Interceptions
1.4
0.9
1.2
Shots Blocked
0.6
0.4
0.3
Ball Recuperations
4.4
4.9
4.4
In conclusion
Zubimendi will provide Arsenal a tenfold defensive improvement.
It depends on what you want a center midfielder to do, not to seem indifferent. However, one thing is certain: Zubimendi’s defensive mindset will make him a welcome acquisition. Since making his debut in August 2016, he has played 232 times for his boyhood club.
Serving as a sort of “sitter” in front of the back four, the engine room operator will give Arteta and his group stability in a critical area of play. His repertoire is endless, and his exceptional press-resistance is what makes him so sought-after.
Although Partey’s numbers are impressive, there are concerns about his long-term future with the club given that he is now over thirty. The Gunners, who are trying to break their trophy drought, made a wise move by bringing in Zubimendi, who is five years his junior.
xz
