Gary Neville believes Arsenal’s signing of Martin Zubimendi is equally as important as the club’s deal for Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon in the summer and has netted three times in four Premier League appearances. The Swedish striker ended a long chase for a centre-forward, with Arsenal’s lack of a reliable goal threat criticised last season.
However, Neville believes the signing of Zubimendi is of equal importance to the North London side. He said Arsenal lacked a player capable of breaking lines quickly with their passing and says Zubimendi is an ideal fit for Mikel Arteta’s team.
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Discussing Zubimendi, who scored twice in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Neville said the Spaniard can bring the best out of Arsenal’s attacking options.
“I actually thought he was as important to sign as Viktor Gyokeres. I saw Arsenal last season, I thought there were moments where Jorginho played where he just pops balls through lines, I’m not sure Declan Rice and Partey… it’s interesting how Rice is now being used by Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel in that advanced role, I actually think that’s where Rice should be,” Neville told The Gary Neville podcast.
“Zubimendi I thought they really needed that type of player, Arsenal. Receive it and pop it through to Odegaard a bit quicker, break the lines.
“I wasn’t expecting him score a volley or a header at the back post like we got yesterday [vs Forest], but that’s the quality of him, he’s got great technical ability.”
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