Zubimendi relishes Basque homecoming as Arsenal edge Athletic in Champions League opener | OneFootball

Martin Zubimendi marked his Champions League debut for Arsenal with a commanding display in his Basque homeland, helping the Gunners secure a hard-fought victory over Athletic Club in Bilbao.

The midfielder, who joined Arsenal from Real Sociedad in the summer, admitted it was a special occasion to return home and win at San Mamés, a ground where success has often eluded him in the past.

“It’s important to start with three points,” Zubimendi said. “The first part of the game was a bit more difficult, but when you don’t have a good day with the ball, you have to know how to compete and I think this team has done it. It wasn’t an easy game. I told my teammates in advance that it wasn’t going to be easy. It’s a special field, and it has been very difficult for me to win here. I’m happy to finally do it.”

Despite the emotional backdrop, the Spain international was keen to stress that he did not allow the occasion to overwhelm him.

“I don’t think over-motivation is good for us,” he explained. “In the end, it was one more game, and thinking too much about it being special is not good for us.”

Zubimendi also underlined the importance of Arsenal’s growing defensive resilience, which once again proved decisive. Mikel Arteta’s side have conceded only a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick to date this season.

Zubimendi added: “We are receiving very few goals, and when we don’t have the ball, the team maintains concentration and the desire to win, which means we don’t concede much.”

The 26-year-old also reserved praise for a battling teammate Viktor Gyokeres who picked up yet another knock when he was left bloodied in a clash of heads with team-mate Gabriel Magalhaes.

“He cut his head but he was determined to play on for the team,” Zubimendi smiled. “But the truth is that he is an animal, and he knows it well. At the beginning it wasn’t easy, but the team has the work to do it well.”

It was a night of significance for Arsenal and Zubimendi alike: a winning start to their Champions League campaign, and a personal triumph in the Basque country he once called home.