Arsenal summer signing Martin Zubimendi has hailed the work Mikel Arteta did this summer to get his signing over the line, admitting the Gunners boss can be ‘very convincing’.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a bright start to life in north London, scoring two goals in his first seven Premier League appearances after joining the club from Real Sociedad.
The Gunners fought off competition from Real Madrid and Liverpool to land the deep lying playmaker and Zubimendi admits he watched a lot of Arsenal prior to his move to the club, with Arteta a key role in his transfer.
“When any proposal comes, the first question has to be whether to stay at la Real,” he told the Guardian. “And it wasn’t the right moment [to go].
“I stayed and it was a hard season but I learned a lot. I wanted to step forward, take that weight after others went. Well, until you do decide to go.
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“But I’ve always tried to choose the right time and I’m happy with how it happened in the end. I had watched Arsenal and I liked everything I saw, in terms of passion, youth, the feeling you got watching them.
“And when Mikel Arteta called me … Well, if you’ve ever spoken to him you’ll know that he can be very convincing. He’s mad about football, crazy about having everything under control, trying to get something from every little detail.
“He’s very clear on everything and the proposal he had was the best for me.”
Zubimendi isn’t the only new Arsenal signing to heap praise on Arteta. Fellow Spaniard Cristhian Mosquera says he had no doubts about making the move to the Emirates Stadium after conversations with the head coach.
“I feel great at the club and in the city. From the first moment Arteta spoke to me, I had no doubts about going to Arsenal,” Mosquera said.
“There’s an incredible group of players. Plus, there are a lot of Spanish speakers who have helped me adapt. When I signed, I knew I was going to face them [Gabriel and Saliba], two world-class stars, but that was the club’s idea: to have players competing for every position to go as far as possible.”
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