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Fabrizio Romano shares the ‘crucial factor’ that has given Arsenal the edge in the Martin Zubimendi race

Charles Jones

Tue 14 January 2025 13:45, UK

Arsenal look set to secure a very key signing in the near future.

The January transfer window may be open, but Arsenal are alr🍸eady doing busꦰiness for the summer.

Indeed, Arsenal are said to be closing in on a deal for Martin Zubimendi.

Zubimendi was linked with Liverpool recently, but Arsenal have wanted Zubimendi for a long time too.

Arsenal look to have won the race for the S🎃panish midfielder, and while the January window isꦓ open, the Spain international isn’t set to arrive until the summer.

This deal appears to have accelerated quickly, and according to Fabrizio Romano, Mikel Arteta played a key role in getting this deal going.

• READ MORE: What Ian Wright has said about Martin Zubimen🐎di as Arseꦅnal agree £50.5m deal with Real Sociedad

Mikel Arteta’s role in signing Martin Zubimendi

According to Romano, Arteta played a key rol💜e i🎉n getting this deal moving.

Indeed, the journalist says that Arteta🤪 was a key factor in this transfer.

It does make sense 𝓰for Artetꦰa to play a key role in this deal.

Indeed, Arteta knows Real Sociedad well having spent time at the club as a player, while Arsenal have dealt with Socieda🎐d in recent years.

Mikel Arteta’s growing influence at Arsenal

Arteta has played a key role in the talks with Zubimendi, and this seems to be a growꦬi🌄ng trend.

Arteta personally called Riccardo Calafiori before he signed in the summer, and it looks like the Arsenal manager is getting ever-more involved with transf🥀ers.

Edu used to be Arsenal’s key transfer man, but Edu is leaving Arsenal soon, and, according to Duncan Castles, Edu’s decision to leave w♓as linked to Arteta’s growing in𒁏fluence.

“Arteta went into the season in his strongest position of power ev🐷er at the club, having been handed a new three-year contract in September,” Castles said.

“That contract, I’m told, was one⛦ of the key reasons why Edu resigned his position as sporting director to take up a broader position with Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis, the multi-club group, because he wasn’t happy with Arteta’s increasing authority at the club.”

Arteta’s power at Arsenal is growing, and the manager has🔯 flexed that power once again here as Arsenal c💦lose in on the signing of Zubimendi.

A deal is yet to be officially confirmed, but, by the sounds of things, Arsenal will be signing the Euro 202❀4 winner in the summer.