From Title Hero to Arsenal Benchwarmer

Martin Zubimendi was the beating heart of the Arsenal team that ended a 22 years Premier League title drought last May. He dictated tempo, shut down opposition counterattacks, and provided the press-resistant platform that allowed Mikel Arteta's attack to dominate Europe and domestic football alike. Yet barely four months after lifting the trophy, the Spanish playmaker finds himself stranded on the substitutes' bench.

The sheer physical tax of last season's championship run clearly caught up with Zubimendi during the spring. Playing heavy minutes across 50-plus matches drained his power output and lengthened his recovery times. By the time May arrived, his defensive tracking metrics dipped and his press resistance began to show rare cracks.

Arteta's team selection in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain offered the first clear warning sign. Zubimendi was left out of the starting XI in Munich, remaining on the bench until extra time. That decision surprised supporters at the time, but it foreshadowed a fundamental shift in Arteta's squad hierarchy.

Fast forward to the start of the 2026-27 season, and Zubimendi's role has shrunk even further. Across Arsenal's first five matches in all competitions, the former Real Sociedad star has not started a single game. He has been used exclusively as a second-half substitute in the Community Shield against Manchester City and Premier League matches against Coventry City, Aston Villa, and Chelsea.

The benching was especially glaring on the European stage. During Arsenal's Champions League clash against Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, Zubimendi logged a meager 8 minutes off the bench. Watching the majority of a marquee European night from the dugout represents a dramatic fall for one of Europe's premier central pivots.

Arteta maintains that managing player workload is essential after an exhausting championship campaign. However, going from undisputed cornerstone to late-game closer is a bitter pill for a midfielder in his prime. Rotations protect hamstrings, but prolonged benchings inevitably damage a star player's confidence and standing within the squad.

Bruno Guimaraes, Squad Depth, and Arteta's Tactical Pivot

Arsenal did not rest on their laurels after winning the title. Seeking to protect their squad from burnout, the club overhauled its midfield during the summer transfer window. Bruno Guimaraes completed a high-profile move from Newcastle United, while Christian Norgaard departed London to join Everton.

Guimaraes was brought in to supply the raw physical power and box-to-box engine that Arsenal lacked during the final stretch of last season. The Brazilian international thrives in chaotic physical battles, breaking up play with aggressive tackles and driving forward with force. His arrival was meant to complement Zubimendi, not displace him entirely.

Instead, Guimaraes has seized the central pivot role alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. In Arsenal's opening stretch of fixtures, Guimaraes has provided the athletic shield Arteta craved. His presence allows Rice more freedom to attack the half-spaces, but it strips Arsenal of Zubimendi's unique composure under pressure.

Here lies Arteta's tactical dilemma. Guimaraes offers superior physical recovery and aerial presence, but Zubimendi remains the superior passer out of deep areas. Against high-pressing opponents, Zubimendi's ability to turn out of trouble and break lines with crisp ground passes remains unmatched in the Arsenal squad.

By prioritizing physical horsepower over technical control, Arteta risks altering the very identity that won Arsenal the title. Furthermore, failing to rotate Guimaraes and Zubimendi evenly could backfire later in the season when fatigue inevitably strikes the new signings.

The manager's current setup also carries significant squad harmony risks. Leaving a world-class midfielder on the bench after consistent top-tier performances sends a confusing message. If Zubimendi feels his omission is tactical rather than physical, his frustration will quickly spill over into the transfer window.

Real Madrid's Winter Plan and the โ‚ฌ70m Raid

Zubimendi's sudden bench status in London has set off alarm bells in Madrid. As Football365 reported, Real Madrid are actively pulling strings to land a marquee midfielder during the upcoming winter transfer window.

Real Madrid hierarchy are desperate to rectify a major transfer failure from the summer. The Spanish giants missed out on Rodri, who chose to join arch-rivals Barcelona instead. That blunder left Real Madrid without an established deep-lying conductor to manage match tempo from central midfield.

"Real Madrid are pulling strings to sign a midfielder in the winter transfer window and are working to rectify its mistake."

Florentino Perez views Zubimendi's benching as a golden market opportunity. Reports from Spain indicate Madrid hesitated to invest heavily during the summer, but have now reversed their decision. The European champions are preparing a formal offer of at least โ‚ฌ70m to test Arsenal's resolve in January.

Madrid's need for control has been evident even during victory. While Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe scored to secure a hard-fought win over Rayo Vallecano, as Sky Sports noted, Madrid struggled to control the midfield during transitions.

For Zubimendi, returning to Spain to anchor Real Madrid's midfield is an enticing prospect. A starter for the Spanish national team, he cannot afford to spend his prime years watching matches from the Emirates bench while Guimaraes plays every minute.

Arsenal executives will undoubtedly reject initial inquiries, but player power often dictates winter transfers. If Zubimendi indicates a desire to leave, Arsenal's leverage will erode rapidly before the January deadline.

Around the Premier League and Arteta's Sunderland Test

Arsenal are not the only Premier League club grappling with midfield dynamics and physical rotation early in the campaign. Across the league, managers are trying to strike the right balance between squad health and tactical continuity.

Chelsea continue to look vulnerable defensively under Marcos Alonso. The Blues have suffered from erratic midfield transition defense, with Alonso publicly demanding a 'boring' victory to restore defensive solidity after a series of leaky performances.

At Bournemouth, manager Marco Rose remains upbeat despite early-season turbulence. Rose insisted his squad is doing enough on the pitch to win matches, remaining confident that their first Premier League victory of the season is imminent.

Meanwhile, Ipswich Town produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the weekend. Zian Flemming struck late to earn Ipswich a hard-fought 3-2 victory over 10-man Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, as BBC Sport covered.

For Arsenal, the focus shifts directly to Saturday evening's trip north to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Gunners have maintained a flawless start to their Premier League defense, but Sunderland away promises a fierce, hostile test of Arsenal's squad depth.

All eyes will be on Arteta's team sheet an hour before kickoff. Starting Zubimendi would send a clear signal that he remains an essential pillar of Arsenal's plans and help quiet the transfer rumors circulating in Spain.

However, if Arteta benches Zubimendi for a sixth consecutive match, Madrid's January raid will transform from a media rumor into an inevitable showdown. Managing player fitness is smart management, but benching your championship anchor could cost Arsenal an elite playmaker.