Jamie Carragher fears Arsenal star is a major problem for Mikel Arteta – ‘he’s really struggling’

Jamie Carragher fears Arsenal’s brittle confidence is encapsulated by the form of midfielder Martin Zubimendi who he claims is ‘really struggling’.

The summer signing from Real Sociedad hit the ground running at his new club and quickly formed an effective partnership with Declan Rice.

Zubimendi’s early form meant the departures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho were hardly referenced at all as the Spain international helped Arsenal establish a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League table.

With 53 appearances for club and country already under his belt this term, however, Zubimendi has been worked into the ground by Mikel Arteta who now appears to be paying the price for overburdening the 27-year-old.

An injury to Mikel Merino, allied to the decision to allow Ethan Nwaneri to go out on loan in January, has left Arteta will little option but to persist with a player whose confidence looked shot to pieces during Saturday’s damaging defeat against Bournemouth.

The previously metronomic midfielder has struggled badly against opponents who are willing to press him deep in his own territory, while he appears to have lost any sense of ambition with his passing and is no longer progressing the ball as instinctively as he was earlier in the season.

And while he was far from solely responsible, Zubimendi’s reluctance to feed his side’s more attacking players against Bournemouth played a significant role in goalkeeper David Raya receiving a total of 38 passes during a worryingly disjointed performance.

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Highlighting the difference between Manchester City’s current approach and that of the team they are on the verge of chasing down in the title race, Carragher said: ‘A three vs three situation and imagine City yesterday.

Semenyo, Doku, Haaland and getting the ball into them.

That’s what Pep’s done before and we’ve seen it before.’
‘Why are they not hitting this pass?’ Carragher added, pointing to a still of Arsenal’s front three stationed up against their markers in the Bournemouth half of the pitch with Raya in possession.

‘That’s how you beat the press.

They’ve baited them to come onto them, get it into your front players.

Is it because it wasn’t part of the plan from Arteta or have they not got confidence in these players.

I do think they lack real quality in the front three, I’ve said that before and I won’t change my mind.’
Highlighting another example of Zubimendi’s reluctance to play a first time pass to a teammate, Carragher said: This time Zubimendi, we’re in a situation where Senesi has gone back so it’s an eight vs six and you can get out easily.

‘A player of that quality has to just play that around the corner to Saliba and you’re back out, absolutely fine.

‘But Zubimendi is having a really tough time in midfield and the ball ends up just going long, high and hopeful.

No quality into the front players and that was the plan.’
As accomplished as Bournemouth’s display was as they recorded their third win in four games against Arsenal, they were by no means perfect and Carragher also highlighted a telling example of Arteta’s players not switching on an recognising the game state.

He said: ‘I’ve said before about playing through them or over them.

Another way is to play when they’re not ready.

‘The Bournemouth players aren’t set here so let’s get it in quickly, move it quickly and get Zubimendi on the ball.

‘He’s your orchestrator in that deep position but he’s really struggling, it’s a really poor pass and from that throw that’s where the first goal comes from.’