Martin Zubimendi has been a pivotal figure for Arsenal this season, leading Mikel Arteta’s team towards long-overdue silverware with several impressive performances. However, the Spaniard has started to demonstrate signs of fragility in recent weeks.
The Gunners sit top of the Premier League, five points clear of second-place Manchester City, while they are still in the FA Cup and Champions League, and have a League Cup final to look forward to. A significant factor contributing to this exceptional campaign is Zubimendi, who has elevated the level of Arsenal’s midfield after arriving from Real Sociedad for £55 million last summer.
That said, Zubimendi has appeared visibly fatigued over the last month, and Arteta simply must handle the 27-year-old’s minutes with caution moving forward, particularly after a staggering statistic about the player was revealed this week.
Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi has run more than any other Premier League player in 2025/26
When Zubimendi arrived in North London, there was a perception amongst Arsenal fans that he was merely a metronomic passer who sat at the base of the midfield and dictated build-up. What Gunners supporters have come to realise is that he’s much more than that.
In tandem with Declan Rice, Zubimendi pops up across the pitch, putting out fires and doing what is necessary in each phase of the game to regain and retain possession. He is everywhere, and this ability to cover ground has become a staple feature of Arsenal’s dogged system.
Having said all that, the extent to which Zubimendi has been the Gunners’ engine has gone somewhat under the radar. In a staggering revelation, X user Don Draper (@arsenalbarclays via the Athletic) released data on Wednesday that showed the Euro 2024 winner to be the hardest-working player in the Premier League this season.
Zubimendi has run more than anyone else, covering 311.1 km since the beginning of the campaign. The likes of Elliott Anderson, Morgan Rogers and James Garner aren’t far behind the Spain international, while Rice is also in the top ten.
Athletic ' Premier League Data suggests no player has run more than Zubimendi. In his debut season in English football, the 27-year-old Spain international has already covered more than 311 km (193 miles) & only 9 PL players have run further than Rice (285km)' pic.twitter.com/UlH97Jln0u
— Don Draper (@arsenalbarclays) March 4, 2026
This data is eye-opening; not only does it point to how important Zubimendi’s work rate is to ensuring Arsenal remain the most resolute defensive team in world football, but it also highlights exactly why his form may have dropped off over the last month.
The former Real Sociedad man has been run into the ground, playing almost every minute of every match. His game relies on his athleticism, and this supreme durability hasn’t been platformed in recent times because of the volume of minutes he’s had on the pitch.
Mikel Arteta must manage Martin Zubimendi’s minutes
Arsenal are suffering from an array of injuries in midfield. Mikel Merino is likely out for the season, while both Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz can’t get fit.
These absences have meant that Arteta has had to call upon Zubimendi and Rice in almost every match. That said, the divisive head coach could still do more regarding how he delegates minutes to the pair.
| Martin Zubimendi’s Statistics vs Chelsea | |
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Touches | 33 |
| Shots | 1 |
| Passes into the Final Third | 6 |
| Key Passes | 0 |
| Accurate Passes | 21/26 (81%) |
| Defensive Contributions | 7 |
| Tackles | 3 |
Christian Norgaard has hardly played at all, with Arteta clearly reluctant to trust the Dane in high-leverage games. The 31-year-old was more than capable for Brentford last season, and thus, this must change.
Arteta needs to feel comfortable rotating Norgaard in for a handful of Premier League games between now and the end of the season, not just against Mansfield this weekend. Otherwise, Zubimendi is likely to burn out and Arsenal will subsequently suffer in big matches where they need their hardest-working player.
