Arteta Hints at Zubimendi's Champions League Final Start as Arsenal Prepare for PSG Showdown

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered strong indications that Martin Zubimendi will line up in midfield when the Gunners face Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday's Champions League final.

The 27-year-old Spaniard has emerged as one of Arsenal's standout performers since arriving from Real Sociedad in summer 2025, though his involvement has dried up considerably in the latter stages of the campaign. Before the final Premier League outing against Crystal Palace, Zubimendi found himself warming the bench for four consecutive matches.

Speaking to AS on May 29, Arteta left little doubt about his intentions. When questioned whether Zubimendi's absence reflected concerns about his physical condition or whether his replacement offered tactical advantages, the Arsenal boss was emphatic in his response.

"No, Zubi's season has been exceptional," Arteta said. "I could give you a thousand examples of top-level players who have come to this league and compare what they've done in their first year with what Zubi has done, and I think it's impressive."

The manager acknowledged that recent circumstances had forced a difficult call. "It's also true that he's played a number of games he'd never played before. There was a time when that put him in a difficult situation, and it was a tough decision, but I think there were some teammates at that moment who, for the type of game we had to play, could have helped us a lot as well."

Arteta went on to explain his reasoning for giving the midfielder a breather: "We took that relief away from him and then gave him that breathing room, that respite, and now we have crucial games where we're going to need him. Definitely."

Zubimendi himself has addressed the prospect of featuring in the continental showpiece. Speaking to Marca, the midfielder offered a characteristically measured assessment of his situation.

"I always see myself playing, but what actually happens is another matter," he said. "Lately, I haven't been getting much playing time, but I'm ready to go out and play. My overall performance in the Premier League has been very good, and I'm not going to dwell on these benchings."

When pressed further on whether he would definitely start, Zubimendi deflected with a touch of humour: "I don't know, ask the manager [ Laughs ]."

The midfielder did acknowledge the toll the campaign has taken. "It's been a very demanding, long season, in which I've made efforts I haven't made in my career, and that's surely taken its toll. But I think I'm back to normal now."

Across the season, Zubimendi has accumulated 56 appearances for Arsenal, adding six goals and three assists to his defensive contributions in the process.