Spain opened their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in style, sweeping aside Bulgaria with a 3–0 victory in Sofia on September 4, 2025.
The scoreline may have been comfortable, but much of the post-match discussion has centered around one man: Martín Zubimendi.
The Arsenal midfielder delivered a complete display at the base of Spain’s midfield, dictating tempo, breaking up play, and supplying the crucial pass for Mikel Oyarzabal’s opener in the fifth minute.
From there, Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino added goals to secure the points before half-time, but it was Zubimendi’s composure and control that caught the eye.
Spanish outlets rated him among the best players on the pitch, with Fotmob handing him an 8.5/10 and describing his outing as “a masterclass in defensive midfield play.” For Arsenal supporters watching on, the performance sparked a wave of online reactions and plenty of comparisons.
Fan Reactions
One Arsenal fan summed up the feeling bluntly:
“Martin Zubimendi is objectively an upgrade on that other guy who’s thankfully no longer at Arsenal Football Club. Mikel Merino isn’t some useless shin-kicker DM, he’s a rather unique profile of midfielder with strengths and flaws like anyone else. Those are both facts.”
Another wondered why they don’t see the same dominance in North London:
“Where’s this Zubimendi when it comes to playing for Arsenal? 😂 #AFC”
The numbers backed up the praise, with fans noting his chance creation and final-third involvement:
“Zubimendi created 2 BCC and 8 final third passes. I told you Arteta is holding this squad back.”
Others simply urged appreciation for what Arsenal now have:
“Arsenal fans need to appreciate what they have with Martin Zubimendi. What a player.”
And one summed it up by linking his Spain form to life at Arsenal without Mikel Arteta’s rigid system:
“Zubimendi assist, life without Arteta…”
What It Means
For Spain, Zubimendi has quickly become a central figure, showing he can orchestrate games at the highest international level. For Arsenal, the performance reignites the debate around whether Mikel Arteta is getting the best out of him in the Premier League.
Either way, the verdict from fans is clear: after his display against Bulgaria, Zubimendi looks like the midfielder Spain and potentially Arsenal can build around for years to come.
