Alan Shearer:
“Zubimendi wasn’t an upgrade on Thomas Partey. Arteta got this one wrong. Partey was irreplaceable at Arsenal, and forcing him out to bring in his fellow Spaniard was a mistake.”
There’s a reason this comparison is so interesting. Partey and Zubimendi are two completely different midfield profiles. 👀
Partey brought physicality, power, ball-carrying, defensive aggression and the ability to change a game with one strike from distance. When he was at his best, he could completely dominate the midfield.
Zubimendi, on the other hand, offers composure, positional discipline, control and structure. He’s excellent at dictating the tempo, but he doesn’t necessarily bring the same physical presence or explosive all-round threat that Partey offered.
Arsenal didn’t simply lose a midfielder when Partey left. They lost a unique profile that Zubimendi was never expected to replicate in every aspect.
The question is: Did Arsenal replace Partey, or did Arteta simply build a different midfield around Zubimendi? 🔴⚪️