Andrea Berta wanted Arsenal to sign different No.6 instead of Martin Zubimendi…

When Arsenal secured the signing of Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad this summer for a reported £60 million, many fans believed the Gunners had finally found their long-term anchor in midfield. Yet behind the scenes, not everyone at the club was fully convinced.

Reports have now surfaced revealing that Andrea Berta, Arsenal’s newly appointed sporting director, would have preferred a completely different profile for the No.6 role. The deal for Zubimendi had already been agreed before Berta officially began his work, leaving him with little say in the final decision.

According to The Athletic, Berta inherited the situation rather than shaping it. By the time he arrived in North London, the move for Zubimendi was practically signed and sealed. The Spaniard was unveiled as Arsenal’s big midfield addition, but had Berta been in charge sooner, Arsenal fans might have been watching another name anchor their team this season.

The mystery now lies in which player Berta would have chosen. While no definitive candidate has been confirmed, several names had been circulating around the Emirates before Zubimendi’s arrival. Atletico Madrid’s Pablo Barrios, Sevilla’s Lucien Agoumé, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton were all players strongly linked with Arsenal in the summer. Any of them could have been the alternative Berta had in mind.

The revelation has sparked plenty of debate among Arsenal fans. Was Zubimendi truly the right fit for Mikel Arteta’s system? Or did Arsenal rush into a deal that Berta might have handled differently? It’s a fascinating “what if” moment, especially given the high price tag attached to the Spaniard.

Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson has already voiced his skepticism. Speaking on ESPN, he suggested the club may have overpaid for a player who excels at keeping possession but lacks the dynamism needed to break down stubborn defensive blocks. “He’s not a player who looks for forward passes,” Robson argued. “He’s neat, tidy, and composed, but at £60 million, you want more than someone who just circulates the ball.”

Liverpool supporters, meanwhile, have been watching this situation closely. Zubimendi was heavily linked with a move to Anfield earlier in the summer, with Jamie Carragher even accusing Arteta of “stealing” the midfielder away from Jurgen Klopp’s plans. Carragher claimed on his Stick to Football podcast that Zubimendi had verbally agreed to join Liverpool before ultimately deciding to remain at Real Sociedad for another year—until Arsenal swooped in at the decisive moment.

Arteta’s Basque roots may have played a key role. With strong ties to the region, Arteta reportedly used his connection to persuade Zubimendi, assuring him of a defined role in Arsenal’s long-term project. In Carragher’s words, “I’m convinced Arteta took him from Liverpool. The timing, the persuasion—it all points to Arsenal stepping in when he was leaning towards Anfield.”

Regardless of what might have been, Zubimendi has already made his mark in the Premier League. Featuring in all three of Arsenal’s league fixtures so far, he has helped the Gunners secure wins against Manchester United and Leeds before tasting defeat against Liverpool. His calm presence in midfield has been evident, but doubts about his ability to dictate games at the highest level remain.

For Andrea Berta, the question lingers: did Arsenal invest heavily in the right man, or did the club miss an opportunity to pursue a midfielder more suited to the modern Premier League? Only time will tell whether Zubimendi will silence his critics and justify the investment—or whether Berta’s instincts about an alternative No.6 will prove prophetic.

As the season unfolds, all eyes will remain fixed on Arsenal’s midfield, where Zubimendi carries not just the expectations of the fans, but the shadow of the debate over what could—and perhaps should—have been.