Arsenal star Martin Zubimendi makes Real Madrid transfer claim after snubbing summer move

Martin Zubimendi maintains he would not have been the "missing piece of the jigsaw" at Real Madrid - nor does he believe he fulfils that role for Arsenal as he praised the calibre of his team-mates.

The Spaniard, who had long been in Mikel Arteta's sights, departed Real Sociedad during the summer and chose to make the switch to the Premier League.

There was interest from his homeland courtesy of Los Blancos, where his idol Xabi Alonso had recently assumed the managerial role.

However, Zubimendi chose to join Arsenal, who stumped up £60million to secure his signature.

The midfielder had established himself on the international stage with some outstanding displays at Euro 2024 before opting to remain in San Sebastian for an additional campaign, despite Liverpool's advances last year too.

The 26 year old now forms part of an Arsenal midfield alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

Had he made the move to Madrid, he would have been lining up with the likes of Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, and Zubimendi cannot see how he would represent the final component in either squad.

READ MORE: Mikel Merino explains what Arsenal squad are doing to support Viktor Gyokeres

READ MORE: Arsenal set for double injury boost with forgotten man impressing medical staff

He told AS: "I don't know, I don't know. We're talking about very big clubs.

"To say that Madrid was missing a piece like me is a lot to say because all the players they have are spectacular. And at Arsenal, it's more of the same."

Zubimendi has highlighted Arteta and his methodology as a crucial deciding factor in his transfer. The Gunners manager was eager to secure his fellow countryman, and his coaching philosophy proved enormously attractive to the Sociedad academy product.

He said: "I don't know, it's just a feeling. Once I decided to leave Real, Arsenal was a team that, from what I had seen, suited me well, especially in terms of their style of play. I also wanted a very detail-oriented coach, and in (Mikel) Arteta, as soon as I spoke to him, I found that.

"There was a very young team (at Arsenal), with a lot of passion, very close-knit, eager to win, and even though they haven't been able to do so, that makes them even more eager."

Zubimendi formed part of a significant recruitment campaign that also witnessed the arrivals of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze to north London.

Following some initial scrutiny, Arsenal now sit at the summit of the Premier League table - with Zubimendi himself contributing two goals.