‘Zubimendi complements Declan Rice brilliantly – he’s the guard dog in front of the centre-backs’ Gilberto Silva outlines what Martin Zubimendi brings to Arsenal

Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice of Arsenal look on during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Athletic Club at Emirates Stadium on August 09, 2025 in London, England. — Martin Zubimendi joined from Real Sociedad (Image credit: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal’s progress under Mikel Arteta has been as much about structure as it has style.

While the Gunners of old under Arsene Wenger cultivated a reputation as English football’s most silky side, Arteta’s Arsenal is more robust and more physical with particular importance placed on the Emirates engine room.

Gilberto on Zubimendi’s role at Arsenal

CARDIFF - MAY 17: Gilberto Silva of Arsenal takes control of the ball during the FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Southampton on May 17, 2003 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Arsenal won the match and the FA Cup 1-0. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) — Gilberto Silva was an Arsenal midfield mainstay in the 2000s (Image credit: Getty Images)

Martin Zubimendi was snapped up by Arsenal from Real Sociedad for a fee of £55million in the summer and Gilberto sees a kindred spirit in the Basque star.

“Zubimendi complements Declan Rice brilliantly – he’s the guard dog in front of the centre-backs, occupying space, playing simply and efficiently,” Gilberto tells FourFourTwo.

Gilberto was a Premier League and World Cup winner in that role and believes that the 24-time Spain international has the anticipation and positional discipline that served him so well during his own six-year stint in north London.

“He’s the little engine – constantly filling the gaps, offering Declan the freedom to push forward, arrive in the box and even score goals.”

While Arsenal have moved into the second half of February in contention for all four major trophies this year, the club’s ultimate goal is to return to the summit of English football and claim their first Premier League title since 2004.

A hat-trick of successive second-placed finishes threatens to give Arsenal an always-the-bridesmaid label and Gilberto admits coming so close, so many times may be an issue.

Arsenal target Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad reacts during the LaLiga match between Real Sociedad and Atletico de Madrid at Reale Arena on October 06, 2024 in San Sebastian, Spain. — Zubimendi cost the Gunners £55million (Image credit: Getty Images)

“Staying in the title race for four consecutive years is difficult,” he continues.

“When you go all the way and don’t quite make it, it takes a toll mentally. But this group alone isn’t responsible for the long gap since the club’s last Premier League title.”

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For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.

With contributions from

Caio Carrieri

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