Arsenal should be chasing Spain's 'perfect' £60m player after his display against England last night - opinion

Mikel Arteta will have been watching closely during Spain’s victory over England in Sunday night’s Euro 2024 final for a multitude of reasons.

Primarily, Arteta will have been watching the game as a fan, hoping his country Spain would lift a fourth European title.

And right after that, the Arsenal boss will have also been checking on Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, perhaps feeling slightly conflicted to watch the duo lose.

Thirdly, Arteta will have enjoyed another closer look at a number of Arsenal’s transfer targets playing in red.

Athletic Club’s Nico Williams is reportedly Arteta’s preferred attacking signing this summer – someone who can compete with Gabriel Martinelli.

Williams is an incredibly exciting talent, one some English fans will now want to forget after his opening goal on Sunday.

And aside from Williams there was also Mikel Merino – who unfortunately for Arteta didn’t play any significant minutes, only appearing as a sub in the 89th minute.

And whilst both Williams and Merino would be excellent signings in their own right, one midfielder proved exactly why he should be Arsenal’s priority target in just 45 minutes of football.

Martin Zubimendi is the last piece of the puzzle for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal

When Rodri was substituted at half-time in Sunday’s final, many English fans would have been elated – their opposition had just lost the prowess of a potential Ballon d’Or winner.

Unfortunately for them, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi was in no mood to be a downgrade, and delivered a spectacular second half performance.

READ MORE: English national media deliver verdicts on Arsenal star Bukayo Saka’s display in the Euro 2024 final

Tasked with replacing Rodri as the six, the £60m-rated midfielder coped with the impossible task incredibly well, perhaps even adding a little more dynamism to Spain’s display.

Of course, Arsenal have often been linked with Zubimendi over the years, a player Arteta must admire.

But there seems to be something holding Arsenal back, perhaps Zubimendi’s reluctance to leave his boyhood club.

However, Arsenal should definitely still be testing the waters for a midfielder who would be ‘perfect’ to accompany Rice, who could then continue to pursue a more advanced role. 

A former Sociedad player himself, there’s unlikely to be many managers better-positioned to tempt Zubimendi to England, who could become a superstar in north London.

Adding such a talented profile really would complete Arsenal’s midfield, who needs a more athletic alternative to Jorginho across the long season to come.

All that being said, Arteta has now made it clear that he wants to keep one underperforming player at the club this summer.