Martin Zubimendi already has alternative Arsenal shirt number waiting after transfer agreed

The addition of Martin Zubimendi could prove to be a very smart piece of transfer business as Mikel Arteta looks to take Arsenal to the next level. In what is a pivotal summer for the football club amid their failure to win a major trophy since 2020, the Gunners are on course to lure the Spaniard to the Emirates Stadium.

Real Sociedad midfielder has a release clause in his contract worth €60million (£52.3million), which could potentially turn out to be a shrewd deal if he can replicate his form in the Premier League. football.london understands that .

Earning rave reviews for Real Sociedad and Spain, . The Spaniard's good friend, Xabi Alonso, has previously pointed that out.

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"Martin’s a player all coaches would want," admitted Alonso (via ), who coached the player during his time in charge of Real Sociedad B. "He’s generous, he always thinks more about his teammates than himself. He has that ability to generate play, to make those around him better, always offering solutions; to improve the move.

"He understands what the next step is before the ball gets to him. He has that ability to organise, the axis. I loved working with him.”

Zubimendi currently wears the No.4 shirt for Real Sociedad but that will not be a possibility for him at as is currently in possession of the number. When he's representing Spain, the midfielder has donned No.18 and No.6 over the past couple of seasons.

Again, those numbers are not available at Arsenal as Gabriel Magalhaes is No.6 and Takehiro Tomiyasu is No.18. Zubimendi has also worn No.5 for La Roja in the past, .

The No.3 jersey will also be available as is to leave once his contract officially expires. Zubimendi, who was a teammate of the Scotsman at Real Sociedad in the 2023/24 season, did previously wear the number during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons for the team from the Basque Country, thus raising the possibility that he opts for the jersey once again.

When breaking through as a youngster at Sociedad, Zubimendi was the team's No.36, but this shirt is in the possession of goalkeeper Tommy Setford. Other numbers that will be available to the Spain international include No.10, No.13, No.14, No.16, No.20, No.25, No.26, No.27 and No.28.