Arsenal set to complete first signing as target likened to ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid star 'jets in' to seal deal

Arsenal are arguably the most consistent team in the Premier League but Mikel Arteta faces the biggest transfer window of his tenure at the Emirates Stadium.

The core of a Premier League winning team is in place with a solid foundation and quality from back to front, however, there are obvious areas where the Gunners’ boss needs to upgrade or add quality.

The glaring hole is in the forward line and the need for a competent and clinical No.9, not just someone who can do a job, in what many feel is the missing piece in the Arsenal jigsaw.

Strikers like Benjamin Sesko have been linked as has Viktor Gyokeres who prefers a move to Arsenal over Man Utd with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo also a headline making target.

Arsenal close in on Martin Zubimendi

The first signing looks like being an addition to the engine room though with Sky Sports reporting an update on Martin Zubimendi’s arrival from Real Sociedad.

Arteta is said to have fought off interest from Liverpool, Man City, Barcelona and Real Madrid to land the Spaniard who has long been tipped to be the natural successor to Sergio Busquets in the international team but who has had to be patient to get his chance.

It’s not quite a done deal however: “Martin Zubimendi is understood to be in London finalising his transfer to Arsenal,” report Sky Sports. “The Gunners remain confident of clinching a £51m deal to sign the midfielder from Real Sociedad, whom Liverpool tried to buy last year.”

It maybe isn’t the most important area of the pitch that Arteta needs to improve, but there is a basic rule that Arsenal are following in signing the 19-times capped Spaniard. He would strengthen their rivals, therefore he is a signing worth making.

What sort of player is Martin Zubimendi?

Someone who knows Zubimendi better than most is Sociedad’s vice-president Roberto Montiel who was also Arteta’s youth coach during his apprenticeship before moving to Barcelona.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Montiel explained what type of player Arsenal fans could expect next season, as he compared him to former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso.

"He could play with both feet, he was a quick-thinker, and he was always in the right positions on the pitch," says Montiel. "He was like Xabi Alonso in the way he saw football."

As well as Arteta, Montiel also coached Alonso in the same youth team.

"I would say Martin was more similar to Xabi than Mikel, as a boy as well as a player," Montiel continued.

"Like Xabi, he was a great passer who made good decisions. He won the ball well and knew how to protect it. But he was also a bit of an introvert, similarly to Xabi, whereas Mikel was all-in. Martin could go a bit unnoticed because of that."

Arsenal need to start ticking the boxes off and the signing of Zubimendi would allow more attention to be paid to the forward line knowing that there are no other real areas of weakness that desperately need to be addressed.

He maybe won’t score 30 goals a season, however, a player compared to Xabi Alonso and who is the successor to Busquets is worth getting excited about.