'Difficult to understand' - Mikel Arteta says even he can't explain how good one Arsenal player is
Mikel Arteta has been blown away by the ability of one of his Arsenal players.
Mikel Arteta has been speaking about the form of one of his summer signings who is already making a big impression. Arsenal are in superb form currently, continuing their fine run with a big Champions League win over Atletico Madrid during the week.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League and three points clear of Manchester City, but they do have a tricky test this weekend, facing a stubborn Crystal Palace side that has only lost once so far this season.
The Gunners have had a number of standout players during their very solid start to the season, but the best of them might just be summer signing Martin Zubimendi, who has been ultra-consistent in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.
“Well, every player is different,” Arteta said of the Spaniard. “We have some terrific midfielders here. He brings certain hierarchy, certain composure that it's very difficult to understand, and then the way he perceives information and learns from the game and what is actually happening in the game at that speed is remarkable, and I think, again, about him it was about unlocking certain spaces and his capacity to look further and to hold the position when his teammates are further from the ball than himself. And then, yeah, if he can add goals to it, even better.”
Asked if Zubimendi can improve even more, Arteta continued: “A lot more, and the more he understands his teammates, the timing of that and those relationships build, I think we'll see another level of skill in him.”
Arteta leans on home support
Arsenal drew with Palace in their last home clash with them, drawing 2-2, and Arteta is well aware of how difficult it is to play against them. Asking for the support of the fans, he added: “(They are) Key, capital, one of the most important things and I love that because we don’t expect supporters to turn up to the stadium. We want them just to play the game with us, which is very different. In order to do that, you have to be in your seat with a certain behaviour, with a certain body language and it’s a good test, Sunday at 2pm, how we’re going to turn up after a big Champions League game.
“If we’re going to go to another step and do something that we didn’t do last year, everybody has to turn up to the stadium with that mindset, so that’s what I want to see.”
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