DECLAN RICE CROWNS MARTIN ZUBIMENDI AS THE PREMIER LEAGUE’S BEST NO.6
Arsenal lead by six! Discover why Declan Rice is calling Martin Zubimendi "unreal" and how their partnership is winning the league.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice couldn’t stop raving about Martin Zubimendi after the Gunners edged Bournemouth 3-2 and pushed their lead at the top of the Premier League. That win put them six points ahead of Aston Villa, and you could feel the buzz around the squad.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Arsenal grabbed the win with a huge performance from their midfield—Zubimendi, in particular, ran the show. Rice had missed the previous game against Villa, but he came back strong against Bournemouth. Gabriel found the net too, but Zubimendi really caught everyone’s eye with how calm and in control he looked in the middle of the park. Rice made sure to single him out, calling the summer signing from Real Sociedad “unreal.” Zubimendi hasn’t missed a single league game this season and even scored while Rice was out.
Talking to reporters, Rice said, “Don’t underestimate what it takes to come from La Liga and fit straight into this team. He’s not the biggest guy or the strongest, but the way he reads the game just makes us tick. He’s unreal. He’s played loads of minutes, gets on the ball, and you can see why he’s Spain’s No. 6 right now. The quality, the calmness, the way he thinks—it’s all there. Playing with him has been great for me. I’m learning a ton, and we’ve got a good partnership going. We’re both young, both hungry, and we want to keep building on this.”
Zubimendi didn’t hold back when talking about Rice either. He admitted he was surprised by how good the England international really is. “One of the things that excited me most about coming here was playing with Declan,” Zubimendi said. “I always thought he was good, but this year, seeing him up close and how happy he is, he’s taken a big step forward. I’m happy to help him, and he helps me too. Everyone knows what Declan brings—he’s strong, technical, great at set pieces, and his personality surprised me. He wants to lead, both in the dressing room and on the pitch. For me, having a midfield partner like that is vital. He wants the ball and wants to make things happen. It’s the perfect fit.”
Next up, Arsenal has a big one—they’ll face Liverpool on Thursday in the Premier League, then Portsmouth in the FA Cup’s third round. Zubimendi’s going to be key again, especially with people already comparing him to Rodri from Manchester City.
Gaizka Mendieta even weighed in, saying, “When I think of Zubimendi at Arsenal, I think of Rodri at City. City has other players who can fill that role, but it’s not the same. Rodri’s been one of the best in the league because he lets his teammates play their best game, even if you don’t always notice him. When he’s not there, you can’t always put your finger on what’s missing, but it’s obvious things aren’t the same. Zubimendi’s got that same effect—he lets others do things they just can’t do without him.”
WHAT IS THE "AURA" MIKEL ARTETA SEES IN BUKAYO SAKA’S RECENT PERFORMANCES?
"He shifts momentum." Read Mikel Arteta’s full analysis of Bukayo Saka’s importance ahead of the crucial West Ham showdown.
Mikel Arteta sees something special in Bukayo Saka’s presence on the pitch, an “aura” that he believes could drive Arsenal toward a Premier League title, just three games away from ending a 22-year wait.
During Saka’s recent absence with an Achilles injury, Arsenal managed only a single win in five matches. His return, however, seemed to breathe new life into the squad. Saka set up Viktor Gyokeres for the opener before scoring himself in a solid 3-0 victory over Fulham last weekend.
More crucially, Saka netted the decisive goal that helped Arsenal secure a 2-1 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid, booking their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Since making his debut for the Gunners seven years ago, the England international now carries the hopes of pushing Arsenal for vital points, starting with a key clash against relegation-threatened West Ham at the London Stadium, followed by matches against Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the season’s final day.
When asked about Saka’s importance, Arteta highlighted the growing role he plays not just within the team but also in how opponents see him. There’s a clear presence, a certain quality that sets him apart. According to Arteta, Saka can shift a game’s momentum at any time, and instilling that kind of respect or even fear in the opposition is invaluable.
Arteta also touched on managing Saka’s comeback after injury, emphasising the idea of channelling fresh energy and motivation into his performance rather than rushing him back too soon. He described it as a privilege to have a player like Saka, someone who embodies core values and principles, both on and off the pitch. Beyond the football, there’s a human connection that makes working with him rewarding. What Saka showed, especially in the recent Champions League semifinal, was nothing short of remarkable.
Alongside Saka, Declan Rice has also become a pivotal figure since his £100 million move from West Ham last year. Now 27, Rice will make his 59th appearance of the season when Arsenal faces his former club on Sunday. His impact has been significant, earning him runner-up in the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award behind Bruno Fernandes.
Arteta praised Rice as a key leader and a major force for the team, underlining the powerful role he plays as Arsenal chase success this season.
WHY DID JURRIEN TIMBER’S "SIMPLE" INJURY TURN INTO A SEASON-ENDING MEDICAL MYSTERY?
After reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal face a fitness race for key stars ahead of their clash with West Ham.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber are running out of time to get fit before the season ends – a tough setback for Arsenal right now.
Both have been out for weeks, dealing with foot and ankle injuries. The hope was always that they’d be back for the final stretch, giving Arsenal a boost when it matters most. This week, Merino at least made it back onto the training pitch, but Arteta has confirmed neither he nor Timber will be involved in Sunday’s big match against West Ham.
Arteta said he has no new injury problems elsewhere, but for Merino or Timber to play before the end of the season, their recoveries would have to be almost perfect. Timber’s situation in particular has turned out to be more complicated than they first thought.
“That’s probably been the hardest part for everyone. For me, for the player,” Arteta said. “We really didn’t think it would take this long, and he’s still not ready.”
Meanwhile, things are going well for Arsenal on the pitch. They’ve pulled five points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they just beat Atletico Madrid, booking a spot in their first Champions League final in two decades.
There’s still a twist, though. Manchester City play Brentford first this weekend, and they still have a game in hand. Even so, if Arsenal win their last three matches, the title is theirs.
Next up is West Ham, who are fighting to avoid relegation and could easily trip Arsenal up. Arteta knows his team can’t afford any slip-ups. “After the Atletico win, I was completely caught up in the emotion. You could feel what it meant to everyone fans and the staff. But straight after, my focus went to West Ham,” he said.
“We talked as a team about how we’ve earned the chance to be in the final, and we have time to get ready, but right now, all our focus and all the details need to go into West Ham.”
