Given the way Martin Zubimendi controls Arsenal’s midfield, it comes as no surprise to learn he was a child chess prodigy.
Zubimendi is dreaming of firing Arsenal to the Premier League title, but one of his first trophies was the Gipuzkoa Chess Championship.
Aged 11, he won the Under-12 category, and he still plays today, often against Spain team-mates Dani Olmo and Unai Simon when on international duty.
“It’s a game that requires you to have everything under control,” Zubimendi explained earlier this year. “In both sports, the midfield is crucial because it defines the style of play.”
Zubimendi can continue his love of chess at Arsenal alongside fellow new signing Eberechi Eze, who is also a fan of the game.
Eze, like Zubimendi, has impressed since his move to Emirates Stadium this summer, but it is hard to argue that the Spaniard has not been the standout of Arsenal’s recruitment drive.
Zubimendi has slotted seamlessly into midfield, conducting play from deep with composure and calm.
The Gunners’ last game before the international break, against West Ham, was only the second time this season that Zubimendi had been named on the bench.
He was into the action after 30 minutes, though, when captain Martin Odegaard injured his ankle – and he immediately began to boss proceedings.
Zubimendi had a big hand in both goals and, on another day, could easily have been named man of the match.
The performance capped off a fine start to life in north London for the 26-year-old, who has more than justified Arsenal’s decision to spend over £60million on him.
Zubimendi was always expected to excel on the ball – and that has been the case.
In Premier League games this season, among Arsenal players, he ranks second for successful passes, third for passes in the final third, and third for chances created from open play.
It is defensively, however, where the Spain international has really caught the eye. He is second in Arsenal’s squad for possessions won, interceptions and tackles in the Premier League this season.
Aerially, Zubimendi has surprised many – with a clip of him out jumping Newcastle’s Dan Burn going viral.
It was no fluke and only three Arsenal players have won more aerial duels this season – the imposing trio of Gabriel, Viktor Gyokeres and William Saliba.
All of this has come during an exceptionally tough start to the season for Arsenal, featuring trips to Anfield, Old Trafford and St. James’ Park, as well as a home clash with Manchester City.
Yet even against the likes of Rodri, Zubimendi has continued to shine.
For Arsenal, it more than justifies their decision to wait a year to get their man.
In an ideal world, the Gunners would have signed Zubimendi alongside Mikel Merino last year – but Real Sociedad were unwilling to lose both midfielders at once.
Arsenal therefore set the wheels in motion to bring him in 12 months later, and credit for that goes to former sporting director Edu and his assistant Jason Ayto.
Both have since left the club, but their parting gift to new sporting director Andrea Berta was a near-complete deal for Zubimendi.
It meant Real Madrid had no chance of hijacking the move, even after appointing Xabi Alonso – Zubimendi’s idol – as head coach.
Zubimendi grew up looking up to Alonso, and the similarities in their games are easy to see.
Alonso went on to become one of the Premier League’s finest midfielders at Liverpool, embracing the physicality of English football while imposing his own style on it.
Zubimendi has a long way to go to emulate that – but as starts go, he could hardly have made a better one.
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