Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice was substituted after appearing to experience discomfort in his right hamstring during a recent match, raising concerns about his fitness. The England international had been managing a lower-back and neural hamstring issue at the end of last season and was rested for England’s international fixtures last month as a precaution.

Rice’s replacement, Martín Zubimendi, who was a regular starter in midfield last season, has seen significantly reduced playing time this campaign. Despite being a key figure previously, Zubimendi has started just once this season, appearing at right back in the Carabao Cup against Ipswich Town. In league matches, his minutes have been limited to 99 so far. Even when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta adjusted his midfield setup in the Carabao Cup tie against Everton, preference was given to Mikel Merino, partly due to Merino’s height advantage in dealing with aerial threats.

Zubimendi’s limited involvement this season has attracted attention from other clubs. Chelsea’s head coach, Xabi Alonso, reportedly showed interest in the Spanish midfielder during the summer transfer window and had attempted to bring him to Real Madrid prior to his move to Arsenal in 2025. Last season, Zubimendi’s influence diminished toward the end of the campaign, coinciding with a reduced role at Arsenal and a single substitute appearance for Spain in the World Cup final against Argentina.

Arteta has emphasized the importance of managing player workload carefully to avoid overuse and subsequent forced rest during critical periods. He has acknowledged the need to balance squad rotation without compromising key players’ availability.

Looking ahead, Zubimendi is expected to feature in Arsenal’s upcoming Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Fleetwood Town, presenting an opportunity for the midfielder to regain rhythm and confidence.