Mikel Arteta’s signing of a ‘world class’ target has already received the seal of approval from the Arsenal dressing room.

Kieran Tierney, a familiar face to both Mikel Arteta and Martin Zubimendi, has recently given a glowing endorsement of the Real Sociedad player.

This comes as no surprise, as Arteta has been keen on bringing Zubimendi to Arsenal for quite some time now. With Tierney’s seal of approval, Arteta’s admiration for the talented midfielder may only grow stronger.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has already expressed his admiration for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, but he may pay even closer attention to the comments made by his own player, Kieran Tierney.

Tierney, who is currently on loan at Real Sociedad, has had the opportunity to observe Zubimendi closely during his time there.

The 25-year-old Spanish midfielder’s technical skills have impressed Arteta, and Tierney’s recent interview with the Guardian further highlights Zubimendi’s talent.

In the interview, Tierney specifically mentioned Zubimendi as one of the standout players at Sociedad, along with Mikel Merino and Brais Mendez. These remarks provide an interesting perspective from an Arsenal standpoint, shedding light on the quality of players outside the Premier League.

Despite the significant investment of £105 million on midfielder Declan Rice last summer, it appears that Arteta’s efforts to revamp the midfield are not yet complete. Zubimendi has emerged as a potential replacement for Thomas Partey, should the injury-prone Ghanaian be sold during the summer transfer window.

Reports suggest that Zubimendi’s release clause is set at a relatively modest £51 million. If Arsenal is genuinely interested in acquiring his services, they could potentially leave the Sociedad player with a difficult decision to make regarding his future at the club.

Given the frequent rotation in Arsenal’s midfield alongside Rice, with players like Jorginho, Partey, and Kai Havertz all featuring alongside him at various points this season, Arteta is eager to secure the services of a player who can consistently partner with their record-signing midfielder week in and week out.

Regarding Tierney’s future, the 26-year-old has remained tight-lipped. When asked about the possibility of returning to Arsenal in the long run, the left-back responded, “It’s difficult to say.

I cherished my time there, and I still have two years left on my contract. I am immensely grateful to Arsenal. Although I’m uncertain about what lies ahead, I am thoroughly enjoying my current situation.

I believe I have adapted well, and I aspire to repay the club’s faith in me. This squad is incredibly talented, boasting world-class players, many of whom have emerged from the academy. It’s truly an extraordinary narrative.”