Perhaps they'd already decided between them that Zubimendi wasn't the right profile.
The emphasis we've had in the past couple of years on signing physically imposing, durable players is quite a thing. We've rarely been linked with classic AMs or 10s. Seems Arteta's still hunting total dominance at set pieces, in the press and in "duels".
Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Calafiori
Rice
Ødegaard Merino
Saka Havertz Trossard
It could be a pretty beastly XI. Even the small forwards are hard to knock over. Out of the rest, the softest touch is Ødegaard, and even he'll never let you rest and never give you the ball. After that Ben White is the shortest on the pitch at 6'1".
