STICK OR TWIST? Zubimendi dilemma shows Arteta and Arsenal face new transfer problem after Guimaraes arrival

When someone of Bruno Guimaraes' calibre arrives at Arsenal, amid all the fanfare, there will be someone wondering if their time is up.

The Brazilian has just moved to the Emirates for £75million after making it known that the Gunners were the club for him. This is a player who could play for any team in Europe and he will inevitably make Arsenal better.

But following his arrival, that leaves one player having to go out and as part of the fallout reports have emerged that Arsenal have named their price on Martin Zubimendi. That generally only happens for players who could be on the move.

You don't see any prices being quoted for Declan Rice, because he's one of Arsenal's untouchables, if they ever did make such a list. Zubimendi less so and after only a year at Arsenal the Spaniard could be set for a new role, and one he may not enjoy, if he stays.

It's a huge change for a player who, it was well documented, Mikel Arteta had eyed for several years before eventually luring him to London. This was a player who dominated England in the Euro 2024 final, making replacing Rodri look a simple task.

But elite clubs only go looking for players in areas where they think they can improve. You hear no noise around Arsenal landing a top class centre-half, because in William Saliba and Gabriel, they have what they need. You hear no noise around Manchester City signing a top tier No.9, because they have Erling Haaland.

Arsenal's pursuit of Guimaraes showed that they feel they can upgrade in that position. Rice is their talisman but alongside him there's been plenty of contenders. Mikel Merino is one, albeit very versatile, Zubimendi another. Myles Lewis-Skelly may have ambitions to play in that role.

If Zubimendi is to shift from a player who was guaranteed to start to one who isn't, then perhaps the warning signs were there. This is a player who started 34 of 38 games last season - but was benched for three of the final four.

The Spaniard's minutes were cut and he endured the embarrassment of being subbed on, and then off, by Arteta. That came in the vital win over West Ham with Zubimendi coming on in the 28th minute for the injured Ben White. But his afternoon lasted less than 40 minutes and he was hauled off in the 67th minute for Kai Havertz.

"It is never easy to do that to a player, especially someone with Martin’s quality," Arteta admitted after the game.

Weeks later and Lewis-Skelly, who had been snubbed for much of the season, was picked to play in the Champions League final against PSG. Zubimendi started on the bench, and that's where he would remain for the evening.

Managers can talk all they want about the value and the importance of a player, but what really tells is whether they call upon them come crunch time. With the title in the balance and a European Cup on the line, Zubimendi found himself overlooked.

When Zubimendi signed from Real Sociedad the club's sporting director, Andrea Berta, claimed: "Martin was a key target for us and we all know that he is a perfect fit for our squad with the high quality he has."

That fit does not look so perfect now following Arsenal's pursuit of Guimaraes. Arteta has a squad that is the envy of most of Europe, but he'll find that having so many options creates as many problems as solutions it solves.

Arsenal have effectively played with two holding midfielders and a 10, previously Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian too is a man under pressure for his spot. Going on the fact that Rice is the pillar and Guimaraes, the second most expensive player in Arsenal history, will start - where does that leave Zubimendi?

A possibility exists that Arsenal play with more of a flat three in midfield. But where does that leave Odegaard. Or Eberechi Eze, who played centrally last season, or Kai Havertz or eventually Max Dowman?

Arsenal were pipped on penalties by PSG last season as their European Cup dreams were ended in heartbreaking fashion. On that night in Budapest, for all their battling spirit and defensive quality, it was clear that the Gunners had levels to go in the final third to match PSG.

This summer has been about closing that gap. Guimaraes is the type of player who helps them play through the lines. Their pursuit of Vinicius Junior was well publicised.

Arsenal are firmly back among Europe's elite, capping an impressive rise under Arteta's leadership, but if there's one conundrum they're yet to face during the assembly of their stunning squad, it is who to back. In recent years no major player has wanted out, but with so many top class operators now available some will inevitably end up being cannon fodder in the club's grand plan.

Zubimendi may be one of the early lessons.

Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.