{"id":8614,"date":"2026-04-30T14:15:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T14:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=8614"},"modified":"2026-04-30T14:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T14:15:08","slug":"steven-gerrard-disappointed-arsenal-beat-liverpool-to-60m-transfer-deal-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=8614","title":{"rendered":"Steven Gerrard ‘disappointed’ Arsenal beat Liverpool to \u00a360m transfer deal | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Arsenal have signed a \u2018fantastic\u2019 player in Martin Zubimendi, says Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard (Picture: TNT Sports)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Steven Gerrard admits he was left \u2018disappointed\u2019 when Arsenal won the race to sign Martin Zubimendi after the midfielder was heavily linked with Liverpool.<\/p>\n

Zubimendi completed \u00a360million move from Real Sociedad to Arsenal in the summer transfer window, with weighty expectations placed on the 27-year-old given the size of the fee and his stellar reputation in Spain.<\/p>\n

After arriving at the Emirates, Zubimendi quickly settled into life in English football and was held up as one of the potential signings of the season during a strong start to his Arsenal career.<\/p>\n

However, some of Zubimendi\u2019s recent performances have been called into question during what has been a difficult spell for Mikel Arteta\u2019s side, whose imperious lead at the top of the Premier League now stands at just three points.<\/p>\n

The Gunners\u2019 quadruple ambitions also went up in smoke thanks to back-to-back defeats in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. <\/p>\n

However, the north Londoners\u2019 Champions League hopes remain intact \u2013 and Zubimendi held his own while back in his homeland on Wednesday night as Arteta\u2019s men drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. <\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of the semi-final first leg, ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville was among those to voice their concerns over Zubimendi\u2019s recent form in an Arsenal shirt. <\/p>\n

\u2018I thought at the start of the season that Zubimendi was a great signing,\u2019 Neville said on his\u00a0Sky Sports podcast.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Atletico\t<\/div>
Zubimendi held his own in Arsenal\u2019s semi-final first leg against Atleti (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Atletico\t<\/div>
The midfielder had been close to joining Liverpool two years ago (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018He\u2019s been a good player for\u00a0Arsenal\u00a0but right now I was expecting that this would be where Zubimendi would be the player. Who\u2019s going to be the difference player?<\/p>\n

\u2018I thought [Viktor] Gyokeres would get the goals for them in the big moments and get to 2-0. His lack of quality at the end was poor on that counter-attack. He\u2019s got to do better than that.<\/p>\n

\u2018But I thought\u2026 you think of what [Andrea] Pirlo is, or [Paul] Scholes or Rodri, Bernardo Silva \u2013 the player who can dictate play in a game like this, get Arsenal on the ball, organise and get them with authority and he [Zubimendi] is not demonstrating that.<\/p>\n

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\u2018He\u2019s struggling in the games and he has been for a few weeks now. [Martin] Odegaard does it better.<\/p>\n

\u2018Odegaard went deeper, but the problem is when Odegaard goes deeper, [Declan] Rice then goes deeper and Zubimendi is already deep. Then you\u2019ve got three players, or certainly two in deep areas.<\/p>\n

\u2018You can\u2019t have that. You want them to be rotating with each other, and you want one back there to link play with the defence and the full-backs.<\/p>\n

\u2018It felt to me today that Zubimendi, Rice and Odegaard got outplayed by that\u00a0Newcastle\u00a0midfield.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Atletico\t<\/div>
Zubimendi has been a near-ever present in his debut season with the Gunners (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Neville\u2019s former England team-mate Gerrard remains a believer in Zubimendi\u2019s qualities, though, convinced Arsenal have got their hands on a \u2018really intelligent\u2019 player at the base of their midfield.<\/p>\n

Two years ago, Gerrard\u2019s beloved Liverpool had appeared on the cusp on a deal for Zubimendi, only for the Spain international to pull the plug on a proposed move to stay with Real Sociedad.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s been given a really key role,\u2019 Gerrard said on TNT Sports ahead of Arsenal\u2019s draw with Atleti, just moments before kick-off.<\/p>\n

\u2018At Liverpool, we were linked with for a long time, watched a lot of him on the back of that \u2013 [I was] disappointed that we didn\u2019t sign him on the back of that.<\/p>\n

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Gerrard is regarded as one of the finest central midfielders of the modern era (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Arsenal have got a fantastic player, really intelligent. <\/p>\n

\u2018I think he\u2019ll have a big boost being back in Spain tonight, back where he\u2019s from. Arsenal need a big performance from him tonight. <\/p>\n

\u2018[Antoine] Griezmann and [Julian] Alvarez like to come short so he\u2019ll have to switch on, he\u2019s going to have to be aware. At the same time, he\u2019s got to connect Arsenal\u2019s play. He\u2019s got a pivotal role.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Zubimendi rejected Liverpool in the summer he won the Euros with Spain (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zubimendi has made no secret of just how close he came to signing for Liverpool a year prior to joining Arsenal.<\/p>\n

The Merseyside giants had been in advanced discussions with Real Sociedad to get a deal over the line, but were ultimately left disappointed as the midfielder did not feel it was \u2018the right time\u2019 in his career.<\/p>\n

\u2018It wasn\u2019t an easy time,\u2019 the Euro 2024 winner explained while on Arsenal\u2019s pre-season trip to Singapore last summer.<\/p>\n

\u2018I wanted to stay at Real Sociedad, but when offers come in, you start thinking about your options.<\/p>\n

\u2018The first question I had to answer was whether I wanted to leave \u2013 and it wasn\u2019t the right time. <\/p>\n

\u2018I felt Real Sociedad offered me more opportunities and that I still had a lot to learn, so staying was the best decision.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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