Gerrard Rues Missed Chance as Liverpool Lost Zubimendi Race to Arsenal

Steven Gerrard has admitted to being "disappointed" that Liverpool couldn't get their man in the race for Martin Zubimendi, who ultimately completed his £60m switch to Arsenal from Real Sociedad in the summer.

The Spanish midfielder arrived at the Emirates with considerable fanfare and initially impressed, but his performances have become increasingly inconsistent in recent weeks. That said, he delivered a respectable showing in midweek as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in their Champions League first-leg encounter.

Gary Neville, however, wasn't convinced by what he witnessed in the Gunners' 1-0 victory over Newcastle last weekend. The Sky Sports pundit suggested Zubimendi has failed to impose himself in the manner expected of a player of his calibre, particularly when tasked with controlling proceedings and dictating tempo from midfield.

"I thought at the start of the season that Zubimendi was a great signing," Neville said on his podcast. "He's been a good player for Arsenal but right now I was expecting that this would be where Zubimendi would be the player. Who's going to be the difference player?"

The former Manchester United defender drew comparisons to elite midfield operators—invoking the names of Andrea Pirlo, Paul Scholes, Rodri, and Bernardo Silva—before concluding that Zubimendi hasn't yet demonstrated the authority required to orchestrate Arsenal's play. Neville noted that Martin Odegaard performs this role more effectively, and highlighted a structural issue whereby having Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Odegaard operating simultaneously in deeper areas creates congestion rather than fluidity.

"It felt to me that Zubimendi, Rice and Odegaard got outplayed by that Newcastle midfield," Neville added.

Gerrard's reflections came following Zubimendi's respectable midweek performance, and the Liverpool legend didn't hide his frustration at how events unfolded two years prior. The Merseysiders had appeared to have wrapped up a deal in summer 2024, only for Zubimendi to execute an unexpected about-turn and remain in La Liga.

"At Liverpool, we were linked with for a long time, watched a lot of him on the back of that – [I was] disappointed that we didn't sign him," Gerrard told TNT Sports. "Arsenal have got a fantastic player, really intelligent."

Gerrard went on to praise Zubimendi's intelligence and highlighted the significance of facing Atletico Madrid on Spanish soil, suggesting the midfielder's familiarity with the surroundings could provide a psychological lift. He also warned that Arsenal would require a commanding display given the movement patterns of Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez, who operate by dropping deep.

When reflecting on his decision to stay at Real Sociedad rather than join Liverpool, Zubimendi explained the reasoning during Arsenal's pre-season tour of Singapore. "It wasn't an easy time," he said. "I wanted to stay at Real Sociedad, but when offers come in, you start thinking about your options. The first question I had to answer was whether I wanted to leave – and it wasn't the right time. I felt Real Sociedad offered me more opportunities and that I still had a lot to learn, so staying was the best decision."