Arsenal is current favorites to claim the Premier League title this season. With roughly a third of the campaign left, they find themselves in a solid position, but will need to make strategic decisions moving forward. Every player in Mikel Arteta’s squad is contributing to this team effort, although there are always discussions about individual players. Why not give Martin Zvimendi a spotlight?
The Spanish midfielder, who joined from Real Sociedad last summer for about $76.3 million, has seamlessly integrated into life at the Emirates Stadium. He embodies the spirit of Arsenal’s golden era and is now pivotal in their quest for a title that has eluded them for 22 years.
Zvimendi’s adaptation to the Premier League makes him appear seasoned, yet his impressive performances haven’t always been in the limelight. However, as times change, acknowledgment of his skill is finally starting to reflect his contributions.
Show Liverpool What They’re Missing
Zvimendi first made a name for himself in the UK during the Euro 2024 final, where he filled in admirably for Rodri in Spain’s triumph over England. Although Rodri went on to win the Ballon d’Or that year, Zvimendi’s performance significantly bolstered Spain’s midfield during their victorious campaign.
“He’s a fantastic player,” Rodri shared about Zvimendi last year. “He has the discipline and mindset to become one of the best, even if he’s not quite there yet. I told him recently that it’s his time to lead the team.”
After the Euro victory, Zvimendi garnered interest from Liverpool, who believed they could lure him from his lifelong club, Real Sociedad. They envisioned him as an essential piece of their midfield under new coach Arne Slott. Nevertheless, after initially showing interest, Zvimendi opted to stay, with some reports suggesting that Arteta’s involvement played a crucial role in this decision.
Liverpool had a great season in 2024-25, winning the Premier League by a 10-point margin, led by their midfield trio of Ryan Gravenbirch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai. However, this season shows them struggling in midfield while Arsenal appears stronger than ever.
Perfect Rice Partner
It certainly benefits Arsenal that Zvimendi gets to combine with a $144 million talent in the midfield. However, he must adapt well to Arteta’s system, which can be challenging for any newcomer, especially given how settled the team’s core has become.
“It’s been really easy to play with him,” Declan Rice commented about Zvimendi this season, perhaps conscious of not having had such a polished partner before. “We signed him just this summer, and normally there’s an adjustment period, but from our first preseason session, I knew we would gel well.”
“I really enjoy his presence both on and off the field. As the match continued, we developed a strong understanding. He’s a great teammate, and being Spain’s number six means he brings valuable skills in ball progression and playmaking,” Rice added.
“We all trust him with the ball. It’s effortless to link up with him, especially when you have such talented players around. He’s truly an exceptional addition.”
Zvimendi and Rice create a unique partnership, blending modern football strategies with traditional values like “one stays, one goes.” They both demonstrate impressive skill sets, making them hard to counter. While Zvimendi excels in ball distribution, Rice offers physicality and winning duels. Together, they pose a significant scoring threat for a team that struggles to find goals among their attackers.
Goal Threat
During his seven seasons with Real Sociedad, Zvimendi’s highest goal tally in a season was four, achieved in 2023-24. His other records after joining the first team include: zero, zero, zero, three, one, two. This season, he has already participated in 6 of the 34 matches for Arsenal.
His latest goal came in a 3-0 victory against Sunderland, where he struck a powerful long-range shot to break the deadlock. This stood in contrast to his other goals for Arsenal, as his agility in the final third and aerial prowess often made the difference.
“He’s making a contribution we didn’t initially anticipate, showcasing his instinct and quality in key moments around the box,” Arteta remarked following his impressive display against Sunderland.
And that’s precisely the crux of it. Top players, particularly midfielders like Zvimendi, often manage to surprise you by introducing new dimensions to their game. Remarkably, Rice serves as a parallel; he was once expected to be a conventional defensive midfielder but evolved into a much more versatile player, culminating in a nine-figure transfer to a club with championship aspirations.
Interestingly, Rodri’s Ballon d’Or-winning season saw him net nine goals for Manchester City, with eight in the Premier League.
The Final Piece of the Puzzle
Many expected that signing a new striker would complete Arsenal’s transformation from contenders to champions. All eyes are on Victor Gokeres, who has had a recent streak of form, netting 13 goals in 32 appearances. His scoring form is improving, though his performance has been underwhelming overall this season.
Speculation surrounds the return of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus from lengthy injuries, although neither are consistent goal scorers. Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka appears to have lost some pace since recovering from earlier surgery, and other forwards have failed to step up to fill the gap in scoring.
Zvimendi has had to shoulder some of this responsibility. It would have been easy for him to excuse his initial adjustment period when moving from a foreign league, yet he has shown resilience and growth. This showcases not only his potential but also the reason why he was brought to the club in the first place.
Who is Arsenal’s Best Performer?
This season, hardly anything has emerged to differentiate Arsenal’s finest players. Gokeres, leading the squad with 13 goals, is still viewed as underperforming. Gabriel Martinelli, mostly a substitute this season, comes next with 10 goals, followed by Saka with seven.
Unless someone stands out like Gareth Bale did in the 2012-13 season, it’s hard to foresee who will be recognized as Arsenal’s top performer come 2025-26. This spotlight often draws attention.
Initially, many thought Gabriel Magalhães, a set-piece specialist, would clinch this accolade, particularly at the start of the season when Arsenal was terrorizing teams across Europe. However, injuries early in the winter hampered this, enabling other players to shine instead.
Only Rice, another key player and likely candidate for Player of the Year in the coming months, has participated in more matches than Zvimendi this season, with 35 appearances compared to Zvimendi’s 34. Both regularly contribute to the squad’s intense schedule of every three days, often playing the full 90 minutes. A direct competition may unfold between these two midfielders for top honors.
Competition for the Title
Player of the Year awards generally honor the standout performer from the championship-winning side. In the last five years, the only player to win either the PFA Award or the Football Writers’ Association Award without being part of the top team was Mohamed Salah in 2021-22, due to his remarkable individual performance. This year, Arsenal holds a monopoly on potential candidates.
Arsenal’s main competition comes from Manchester City, who boast Erling Haaland leading the Golden Boot race, along with Antoine Semenyo also ranking among the top scorers. As of now, there has not been a singular standout performance that would eclipse an Arsenal player’s candidacy, unlike how Ryan Giggs won the award based on his contributions to Manchester United in their quest for successive titles in 2008-09.
Should Arsenal maintain their lead in the title race, the discourse around the Player of the Year will undoubtedly intensify, where Zvimendi’s candidacy remains strongly viable.
Fan Take: This season’s developments are crucial for Arsenal’s resurgence, as they strive for their first Premier League title in over two decades. A potential Player of the Year award for Zvimendi could reshape perceptions of midfield roles in soccer, influencing tactics and player valuations across the league.
