\n<\/p>\n
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was \u201cdisappointed\u201d that the Reds didn\u2019t sign Martin Zubimendi ahead of Arsenal in the summer.<\/p>\n
Zubimendi has produced a number of underwhelming performances for Arsenal<\/strong> in recent weeks after a largely impressive campaign since his \u00a360m summer move from Real Sociedad.<\/p>\n The Spain international had been floated as one of the potential signings of the season but in recent weeks he has dropped off, although he did produce a good performance as Arsenal drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League clash on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n Gary Neville highlighted the former Real Sociedad midfielder\u2019s poor form after watching Zubimendi fail to dictate play in a 1-0 win over Newcastle United last weekend.<\/p>\n Neville said on his Sky Sports<\/em> podcast<\/strong>: \u201cI thought at the start of the season that Zubimendi was a great signing.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been a good player for Arsenal but right now I was expecting that this would be where Zubimendi would be the player. Who\u2019s going to be the difference player?<\/p>\n READ: Rice \u2018shattered\u2019 thanks to Arteta \u2018trust\u2019 issue as Arsenal \u2018grow away\u2019 from midfielder<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI thought (Viktor) Gyokeres would get the goals for them in the big moments and get to 2-0. His lack of quality at the end was poor on that counter-attack. He\u2019s got to do better than that.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I thought\u2026 you think of what (Andrea) Pirlo is, or (Paul) Scholes or Rodri, Bernardo Silva \u2013 the player who can dictate play in a game like this, get Arsenal on the ball, organise and get them with authority and he (Zubimendi) is not demonstrating that.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s struggling in the games and he has been for a few weeks now. (Martin) Odegaard does it better.<\/p>\n \u201cOdegaard went deeper, but the problem is when Odegaard goes deeper, (Declan) Rice then goes deeper and Zubimendi is already deep. Then you\u2019ve got three players, or certainly two in deep areas.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t have that. You want them to be rotating with each other, and you want one back there to link play with the defence and the full-backs.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt to me today that Zubimendi, Rice and Odegaard got outplayed by that Newcastle midfield.\u201d<\/p>\n But, ahead of Zubimendi\u2019s solid display against Atletico Madrid in midweek, Gerrard revealed his disappointment that Liverpool failed to sign the Spaniard two years ago.<\/p>\n It had appeared that Liverpool had sewn up a deal to sign Zubimendi in the summer of 2024 before he unexpectedly made a U-turn and decided to stay in Spain.<\/p>\n Gerrard said on TNT Sports<\/em>: \u201cHe\u2019s been given a really key role.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Liverpool, we were linked with for a long time, watched a lot of him on the back of that \u2013 (I was) disappointed that we didn\u2019t sign him on the back of that.<\/p>\n \u201cArsenal have got a fantastic player, really intelligent.<\/p>\n MORE ARSENAL COVERAGE ON F365\u2026<\/strong> \u201cI think he\u2019ll have a big boost being back in Spain tonight, back where he\u2019s from. Arsenal need a big performance from him tonight.<\/p>\n \u201c(Antoine) Griezmann and (Julian) Alvarez like to come short so he\u2019ll have to switch on, he\u2019s going to have to be aware. At the same time, he\u2019s got to connect Arsenal\u2019s play. He\u2019s got a pivotal role.\u201d<\/p>\n Revealing the thought process behind staying at Sociedad in 2024, Zubimendi said on Arsenal\u2019s pre-season tour of Singapore: \u201cIt wasn\u2019t an easy time.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to stay at Real Sociedad, but when offers come in, you start thinking about your options.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first question I had to answer was whether I wanted to leave \u2013 and it wasn\u2019t the right time.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt Real Sociedad offered me more opportunities and that I still had a lot to learn, so staying was the best decision.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\nGerrard: I was disappointed Liverpool didn\u2019t sign him<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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