Arsenal summer signing Martin Zvimendi has praised the efforts made by Mikel Arteta to secure his summer signing, admitting the Gunners manager was “very convincing”.
The 26-year-old has made a promising start to life in north London, scoring two goals in his opening seven Premier League games following his move from Real Sociedad. The Gunners turned down interest from Real Madrid and Liverpool for the deep-rooted playmaker, and Zvimendi revealed he researched Arsenal thoroughly before joining the club, admitting Arteta was the key player in the move.
“If I get any offer, the first thing I have to think about is whether I want to stay at La Real,” he told the Guardian. “And it wasn’t the right time (to move).
“I stayed and it was a tough season, but I learned a lot. After the others left, I wanted to move forward and take over that weight. Well, until you decide to leave.”
“But I’ve always tried to choose the right time and I’m happy that it finally happened. I was watching Arsenal and I liked everything I saw in terms of the passion, the youth, the feeling you had when you were watching them.”
“And when Mikel Arteta called me…well, if you’ve ever talked to him, you’ll see that he’s very convincing. He’s obsessed with football, obsessed with controlling everything, trying to get something out of every little detail.”
“He was very clear about everything and his suggestions were the best for me.”
Zvimendi is not the only new Arsenal player to praise Arteta. Compatriot Cristian Mosquera revealed he had no thoughts about joining the Gunners after speaking to the head coach.
Mosquera, who was part of Arsenal’s £250m summer bid, said: “I feel great at the club and in the city. From the first moment Arteta talked to me, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to Arsenal.”
“We have unbelievable players. And there are a lot of Spanish-speaking people who helped me adapt. When I signed I knew I was going to play against them (Gabriel and Saliba), two world-class stars, but that was the club’s idea: to have the players compete for as many positions as possible.”
In addition to Zubimendi and Mosquera, Arsenal ended up signing Kepa Arrizabalaga, Eberechi Eze, Victor Gokeres, Piero Hincapie, Noni Madueke and Christian Norgaard. And with Arsenal leading the table during the October international break, the team looks strong.
