Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has given his thoughts on the Gunners as they aim for their first Premier League title since they last won in 2004.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry shares his opinion on Martin Zvimendi (Image: Christian Liewig, Corbis via Getty Images)
Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has called on Martin Zvimendi’s critics to revisit the allegations surrounding Rodri when he first emerged in the Premier League. The midfielder has faced criticism from certain quarters over a series of underwhelming performances in high-profile matches for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The 27-year-old arrived in north London from Real Sociedad last summer on a five-year deal. The Gunners fended off interest from Real Madrid to secure his contract and paid a release fee of just over £51m to spread the cost of the transfer.
However, the Spaniard has struggled to convince in an Arsenal shirt, sparking a wider debate over whether the club should look for a summer replacement. Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali has been floated as a possible replacement.
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Despite this, former Gunners frontman Henry leapt to the Basque midfielder’s defense. In an interview with Betway, he urged Zvimendi’s critics to remember the skepticism that initially surrounded Manchester City star Rodri, who joined Josep Guardiola’s side from Atletico Madrid in 2019.
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“People like to talk a lot about everything and everyone. First it was Bukayo Saka, then[Martin]Odegaard, then[Victor]Gokeres, Chelsea, Cole Palmer, referees,” he said.
“You can always raise issues. Zvimendi has only just joined the league, but I remember when Rodri first joined, people were not sure about him.
Arsenal star Martin Zvimendi is under suspicion (Image: 2026 Mark Atkins)
“People can say whatever they want to say and that’s natural. Everyone, including me, is very analytical about everything, but that’s the way it is at the top.
“If you’re not at the top or at the bottom, you don’t know if people are going to talk about you. I’ve been there, so accept the criticism and be able to show something in the end that will prove people wrong.”
Zvimendi was forced to withdraw from international action last weekend after suffering a knee problem while on duty with Spain. He played 13 minutes in La Roja’s friendly against Serbia last Friday, but felt “discomfort” in his knee before leaving the team to prevent further damage.
It remains unclear whether the player will be available for Arsenal’s FA Cup quarter-final away to Southampton on Saturday night (8pm BST). The Gunners then head to the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting three days later.
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