Arsenal star addresses January exit rumours as Mikel Arteta talks confirmed

The midfielder has not started a Premier League game for the Gunners this season, having fallen behind Bruno Guimaraes and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the pecking order.

With minutes hard to come by, there have been suggestions that Zubimendi was unhappy and looking for a way out of Arsenal.

Atletico Madrid are among the clubs understood to be monitoring his situation and some reports in Spain have claimed that Zubimendi was nearing a return to his homeland.

However, speaking to Marca while on international duty, the 27-year-old revealed that is “not at all” true.

“To be honest, I’m sometimes surprised by the press,” Zubimendi said.

“I understand that the winter transfer window is approaching and rumors can surface, but I think we need to be a bit more careful with what we publish.

“Ultimately, everyone has a team they play for, and we need to respect that. I’ve also read that I might be close, but not at all.

Martin Zubimendi

Getty

“Often a news story comes out and it seems that if it doesn’t come true, it’s quickly forgotten and nothing happens. I’m learning how this world works and getting used to it, but sometimes I could avoid a lot of the messages I receive because of this kind of news.”

Asked if he will remain at the club until at least the summer, Zubimendi added: “Yes, I hope so. I’m happy there.”

Zubimendi started 33 of Arsenal’s first 34 league matches last season, making a big impact in his first season in England.

However, he dropped out of the side in the final weeks of the campaign as Myles Lewis-Skelly earned Mikel Arteta’s trust in midfield.

Zubimendi’s task has been made tougher this season by the £75million arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, but the Spaniard has not been surprised by his lack of opportunities in the opening months of the campaign.

“I spoke with Mikel at the beginning of the season,” Arteta said.

“As he does with all the players, he explained the plan to me. He warned me that there were new signings and that there would be playing time for everyone. And here we are, fighting for it.

When you’ve been playing a lot of minutes and your role changes to not playing as much, I’m able to see the positive side

Martin Zubimendi

“I understand because, for me, we’re among the five best teams in Europe. There are some fantastic players. New signings have arrived in my position, and there were already some very good players.

“I’m also part of that competition that makes it so difficult to get playing time.”

As well as not starting in the Premier League, Zubimendi has only made two appearances in Europe. One of those was an eight-minute cameo against Napoli.

However, he insisted: “I’m calm and happy with how I’m handling this situation. It’s something I’ve never experienced before, and I think you learn from these situations too.

“Besides, it’s in moments like these that you need the people around you the most, and they’re there for you.

“I’m patient. When you’ve been playing a lot of minutes and your role changes to not playing as much, I’m able to see the positive side.

“I think everything passes, that just like last year the opposite happened to me and I played practically everything, this can change very quickly.”